Redknapp question Batshuayi's intelligence as he urges Chelsea to spend up front

Chelsea’s backup striking options are not good enough to keep them in title contention if Diego Costa picks up an injury, according to Jamie Redknapp.

The Blues spent big over the summer on Michy Batshuayi, with the Belgium international boasting an impressive strike rate of 33 goals in 78 appearances for former club Marseille.

He has struggled to make an impact in England, though, with game time proving difficult to come by.

The 23-year-old has managed just three goals in the minutes he has been given, with the last of those coming in an EFL Cup win over Bristol Rovers in August.

In contrast, Costa has been in sparkling form – netting 12 times to sit top of the Premier League scoring charts.

His efforts have helped Chelsea to embark on a 10-match winning run and to open up a four-point lead at the top of the table.

Redknapp, though, believes that the Blues are over-reliant on the Spain international and need to bolster their attacking ranks during the January transfer window if they are to sustain a challenge for English football’s domestic crown.

He told the 'Daily Mail': "I would look for cover up front. Unlike Costa, Michy Batshuayi doesn’t look the most intelligent of forwards.

"When Costa is on form he is unplayable – he holds the ball up, scores goals and is a nasty piece of work.

"If Costa gets injured for the rest of the season, you would struggle to see how they would win the League given their back-up options".

Chelsea could see their winter transfer fund boosted by the sale of Oscar to Chinese side Shanghai SIPG, with a £60 million deal being mooted.

Various other players are being linked with imminent exits, so Antonio Conte may have squad space to work with ahead of the second-half of the season.