Chelsea have reportedly opened talks with Brentford striker Ivan Toney’s representatives over a move in January despite his eight-month ban.
According to exclusive news journalist Felix Johnston, Chelsea’s sporting director, Paul Winstanley, is working to put together a plan and reach an agreement with other directors to make a January move for Ivan Toney.
Johnston adds that Winstanley has been in direct contact with Toney’s camp since May, and the English striker would be open to a move should the Blues decide to sign him in the winter transfer window.
The new manager, Mauricio Pochettino, made it a priority to strengthen his frontline options after Chelsea averaged a goal a game last season, finishing a disappointing 12th and subsequently missing out on European football.
As such, the Blues have brought in a couple of big-name attacking signings so far this window, with the arrivals of Nicolas Jackson and Christopher Nkunku from Villarreal and RB Leipzig undoubtedly bolstering their attack, but there’s still a feeling they will need one more elite centre-forward to bring in much-needed goals.
Attackers Kai Havertz and Mason Mount have both left since the end of last season, while David Datro Fofana has been loaned to Hertha Berlin, and Joao Felix has returned to parent club Atletico Madrid.
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Pochettino could therefore do with a brand new striker who can lead the Chelsea attack, and the Blues’ three-man “elite” striker shortlist contains names such as wantaway Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic and Inter’s Lautaro Martinez after being priced out of a deal for Napoli’s Victor Osimhen.
However, a shock but familiar name has now re-entered conversations as Chelsea’s potential marquee striker signing. It’s reported that Chelsea’s transfer supremo, Winstanley, is pushing the West London club’s hierarchy to halt their striker search until January before making a move for Brentford’s Ivan Toney.
Toney’s name was mentioned as a potential striker target for Chelsea towards the end of last season, but any links were put to bed as the England international was handed an eight-month ban from the English FA for gambling. He will be allowed to resume training on September 17, which means the Englishman can keep himself fit ahead of a potential winter switch to Stamford Bridge.
Despite the controversy surrounding him, the 27-year-old remains an elite Premier League striker, having earned comparisons to Didier Drogba. The former Newcastle United striker rubbed shoulders with the likes of Erling Haaland and Harry Kane in the golden boot race last season, scoring 20 goals in 33 Premier League games.
As crazy as it sounds, giving Jackson and Armando Broja a fair chance until January and then signing a proven goal machine like Toney could prove to be a smart approach from Chelsea to tackle an inflated striker market this summer.
Unlike Vlahovic or Martinez, Toney would also not cost an arm and a leg, given he will be into the final 18 months of his current Brentford contract by January and was valued at £50 million prior to his ban.
A deadly poacher, physical beast, good at bringing other attackers into play with his excellent link-up and hold-up play, Toney would be a perfect fit for the west London club if the Blues are not impatient in landing a top-class No.9 before the new season.
