Finally, Chelsea make surprise approach for £36k-a-week striker

Chelsea are desperately in need of a striker this month and the latest player to be strongly linked with a transfer to Stamford Bridge is England international Peter Crouch.

According to the Telegraph, Chelsea have lodged a shock approach to Stoke for their tall striker, as manager Antonio Conte aims to strengthen his attacking line in the winter transfer window.

The Blues have struggled with goals recently. Summer signing Alvaro Morata is in a poor run of form, while Belgium striker Michy Batshuayi is also failing to live up to expectation in a Blues shirt

This has led to the Italian tactician to explore other attacking options, and a number of other transfer targets have been heavily linked. The Blues are reportedly interested in signing forward Andy Carroll from West Ham United but Scottish manager David Moyes is thought to be demanding £20million from the sale of the striker.

Spaniard Fernando Llorente, who Antonio Conte wanted back in the summer, is also being connected with a transfer to Chelsea from Tottenham Hotspurs.

Peter Crouch, 36, has enjoyed a decent playing career in the English top flight and it looks like he could be handed the chance to play for a top-six team for the very last time in his football career.