Chelsea ‘hold talks with Emmanuel Adebayor’

The Togolese striker, who was released by Tottenham earlier this season, apparently met with Blues officials last week.

The Daily Mirror report adds Adebayor and his representatives also held talks with West Ham and Watford.

Adebayor is a highly divisive figure, with huge wage demands and questions about his commitment leaving him without a club.

Spurs are still paying his £100,000-a-week wages until his contract expires in the summer – meaning any club would likely have to negotiate with the Londoners before a transfer occurs.

Manchester City were delighted to land Abebayor in 2009. It turned sour.

Tottenham were delighted to land Abebayor in 2012. It too turned sour.

The big difference for Chelsea is he’s available on a short-term deal – an attractive proposition for a club desperately in need of firepower. He has a rare ability to perform when he has a point to prove, although it could easily be spun to say he loses interest when that’s not the case.

Chelsea need a striker. True, the top four is gone, but they have the faintest of hopes in the Champions League. But Adebayor... really? They are crying out for stability and that’s not an attribute readily associated with the former Spurs man. It’s a huge risk and, given the potential backlash from fans, one worth avoiding if at all possible.