Higuain is the latest striker to be handed the number nine shirt at Stamford Bridge – but will he be as unsuccessful as his predecessors?

Gonzalo Higuain recently completed a loan move to Chelsea from AC Milan replacing the hugely disappointing Alvaro Morata, who has departed for Atletico Madrid.

The Argentina international will succeed Morata as the club's new number nine, but that shirt number has not brought much fortune in recent years – with the likes of Fernando Torres, Radamel Falcao and Morata himself all failing to live up to expectations. Will Higuain follow in their footsteps?

Alvaro Morata | £60m | 2017-

Things were looking bright for Alvaro Morata at Stamford Bridge when he signed for a reported club-record fee of £60 million. He got off to a good start initially, scoring eight goals and bagging four assists in his first 11 Premier League appearances.

Things turned pear-shaped, however, as he struggled with various injuries. His poor fitness and low confidence contributed to his bad form, which cost him a place with the Spain national team for the 2018 World Cup.

Underwhelming performances with Chelsea led him to re-sign for Atletico Madrid in January 2019 on an 18-month deal after 12 years away from the club.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesRadamel Falcao | Loan | 2015-16

A disastrous loan spell with Manchester United in which Radamel Falcao scored just four goals in 26 appearances didn't stop him from joining Chelsea in 2015.

He managed to be even worse at Stamford Bridge, netting just once in 12 appearances and spending much of the season on the bench as his former Atletico Madrid team-mate Diego Costa starred on the pitch.

Falcao returned to Monaco after his loan spell with the Blues and he is still there today.

Getty ImagesFernando Torres | £50m | 2011-15

After the Spaniard made a £50m move from Liverpool to Chelsea in January 2011 – then a British transfer fee record – Torres struggled to recapture his lethal scoring form from Anfield. Indeed, it took him 903 minutes to score his first goal for the Blues.

'El Nino' developed a reputation for being one of the most dangerous strikers in Europe during his time with Liverpool but declined by the time he moved to Chelsea, managing to score just 11 times in his first full season with the club.

Torres did have some memorable moments in London, playing a part in their 2012 Champions League win, but returned to hometown club Atletico Madrid in 2016 after a loan stint at AC Milan.

GettyFranco Di Santo | £3.4m | 2008-10

Following a promising start to his career at Chilean side Audax Italiano, Chelsea signed Franco Di Santo for £3.4m in 2008 and he was immediately integrated into the first-team squad.

The Argentine striker made 16 appearances in the 2008-09 season – though they mostly came from the bench – and he failed to score a single goal.

Di Santo was then loaned out to Blackburn Rovers, where he managed to score just once in 24 appearances, and eventually signed permanently for Wigan with whom he won the FA Cup in 2013 against Manchester City, though he did not play in the final.