Chelsea confirmed the loan departure of Alvaro Morata on Monday, marking the latest failure in their bid to replace Didier Drogba.
Alvaro Morata has left Chelsea for Atlético Madrid, signing a loan deal at the Wanda Metropolitano and bringing an end to a miserable spell in England.
The former Real Madrid forward failed to build on a promising start to life at Stamford Bridge and the writing has been on the wall for some time, with an 18-month switch to Atleti finally completed on Monday.
Morata might not be too hard on himself, though, as he is merely the latest Chelsea striker to falter in the void left by Champions League winner Didier Drogba, with the Blues hopeful new man Gonzalo Higuain can instead step up.
Amid mixed results in the transfer market, even Drogba himself, who left after inspiring the 2012 European triumph, made a return in 2014-15 to help Chelsea to another Premier League crown.
Goals continue to be a problem for Maurizio Sarri's men as Morata joins a rather uninspiring list...
A TORRID TIME FOR TORRES
Fernando Torres actually arrived at Stamford Bridge in January 2011, when Drogba was still at the club. The Spaniard had torn Premier League defences to shreds with Liverpool but looked a shadow of himself after joining from Anfield for £50m.
In terms of trophies, Torres' time at the Bridge was a success as he picked up the Champions League, an FA Cup and the Europa League but on an individual basis his spell was probably best summed up by an open-goal miss at Old Trafford having rounded Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea.
'OLD MAN' ETO'O SHINES BRIEFLY
A Champions League winner with both Barcelona and Inter, Samuel Eto'o signed a one-year deal at the Bridge for the 2013-14 campaign.
The undoubted highlight of his nine goals in 21 league matches was a hat-trick in a 3-1 win over United, while he also raised a smile from manager Jose Mourinho with a celebration pretending to be an elderly man after the Portuguese had questioned the true age of his striker.
COSTA'S COSTLY ROW WITH CONTE
Easily the greatest success story of this selection, Diego Costa's goals inspired Chelsea's title-winning campaigns of 2014-15 and 2016-17 as he netted 20 in each.
However, a row with manager Antonio Conte - who had told the forward he was not part of his plans - meant Costa was left out in the cold before securing a return to Atletico.
MORE TEDDY BEAR THAN EL TIGRE
A loan from Monaco to United in 2014-15 had not gone to plan for Radamel Falcao, but that did not stop Chelsea from borrowing the striker from the Ligue 1 club for the following campaign.
What followed was another year of anonymity that produced a solitary goal from 12 appearances across all competitions.
WHAT'S THE MORATA WITH ALVARO?
Chelsea's then-record signing, for a reported £60m from Real Madrid ahead of 2017-18, Morata looked increasingly devoid of confidence in front of goal at Stamford Bridge.
A return of 15 in all competitions was far from disastrous in his debut season but this term he has worn the look of a man who has forgotten what it is he is supposed to be doing. A return to Madrid, this time with Atletico, will be welcomed by all parties.
FUTURE UNCERTAIN FOR SUPER-SUB GIROUD
A January signing from Arsenal last year, Olivier Giroud has been largely restricted to substitute appearances, with just 12 of his 31 Premier League outings coming as a starter, despite showing signs of an excellent understanding with Eden Hazard.
What does the future hold for the Frenchman in light of Higuain's arrival?
THE SUPPORTING CAST
The likes of Michy Batshuayi, Alexandre Pato, Loic Remy and Demba Ba have all tried, and failed, to fill the sizeable boots left by Drogba.
Chelsea will be desperate for Higuain not to join that collection of struggling strikers.
Yeuadopy
161
Was Diego Costa a defender?
Salaad-Omer
85
Chelsea see higuani's but not see reality hhhhhhhhh[Spittongue][Spittongue][Spittongue][Spittongue][Spittongue]
12UnitedGuyReborn
74
One day their no 9 woes will stop its just so difficult to fill in a place that was once occupied by a legend at times esp when it has to do with goal scoring like united no 7 after cr7 one day another person will come and claim that number and live up to it, time heals everything, just patience and equally good scouting is needed in this case
MeetGibbs
69
after reading this, I am starting to believe that drogba did some voodoo before hanging his boots. How else can you explain good strikers becoming useless once they sign for Chelsea. If Higuan flops I will believe it!!! 😆😆😆
Demay6
69
Costa broke that jinks.
MichofollY_AFC
65
😑😑😂that's football for you, Manu have not seen another Ronaldo since cr7 left, Milan have not seen another fillip inzaggi, arsenal have not seen another thierry Henry and it will be difficult for Chelsea to find someone to fill the void frogs left at Chelsea... this are legends we talking about, ít will eventually happen but it's a matter of time
Vikram95
42
for Chelsea finding a decent no.9 post Drogba is like man u looking for the next best no.7 since Ronaldo there will be the occasional spark in both cases but mostly the search will be disappointing and futile
rota2903
39
The number 9 should now be handed down to our youths like Tammy Abraham. Have faith in them. You never know what these players can do if you are not giving them chances to prove themselves (giving them cameo appearances doesn't count). Let them assimilate in the first team. Rather than buying, give the mantle to them.
Nesaiknruy_Legend
35
Torres is forgiven for helping in the UCL. Eto'o was actually good but he wasn't around for long but from All the players in the list he was by far the best one. Falcao came to Chelsea as an injured player, he was unfairly judged as he never got to play at his best. Morata is a good player but has too many requirements to play to his strength. Luckily Atletico suits him perfectly with a top striker next to him and wingers/midfielders/fullbacks that cross to the forward. Morata is amazing technically, could say he's one of the best technical strikers but his finishing is absolutely horrible. That comes down to both his mentality and decision making. These are things he can improve. The guy is young, he got time.