Chelsea's assistant coach Ray Wilkins has hinted the club may attempt to buy a striker in January as cover for Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka.
Previously chief executive Peter Kenyon had insisted Chelsea would not be active in the transfer window.
But Wilkins said: "We have got the injury situation, haven't we?
"If you lose both in the same game, you always need cover with injuries. You have to have a top end of your side with goalscoring ability."
Drogba, who scored his first league goal of the season in Chelsea's 2-0 win over West Brom on Boxing Day, has struggled with both injuries and suspension.
In the Ivorian's absence, Anelka has led the line impressively for the Stamford Bridge side, scoring 14 times in the league - goals which Wilkins described as "top drawer".
606: DEBATEThe Boxing Day win was the first time Drogba and Anelka had started in attack under manager Luiz Felipe Scolari.
With Anelka on the left-hand side of the front three and Drogba in the central role, there were encouraging signs for Scolari's 4-3-3 formation.
The duo are likely to start against Fulham on Sunday, even though Drogba was taken off as a precautionary measure against West Brom after sustaining a kick on his thigh.
"He has the ability to get hold of the ball when it is in difficult areas and to bring other people into the game," said Wilkins of Drogba, who has been linked with a move to Inter Milan.
"He is the best there is at it. He can get hold of the ball on his chest and kill the game up front for us.
"It allows the likes of Frank Lampard and Michael Ballack the opportunity to get forward and into the penalty area."
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