Al Ahli Secures Agreements for Chelsea Targets Toney and Osimhen

Saudi Arabian club Al Ahli has reached agreements for Chelsea striker targets Ivan Toney and Victor Osimhen, with a total deal worth approximately £107.3 million. Al Ahli has confirmed a £40 million fee with Brentford for Toney, as well as a £67.3 million fee with Napoli for Osimhen.

Both players are scheduled for medical examinations, with Toney traveling to London for his on Friday.

However, while the details for both deals are in place, there is uncertainty surrounding Osimhen’s agreement as he has not yet confirmed his decision. Sources from Saudi Arabia suggest Al Ahli might ultimately opt to sign only one of the strikers.

Chelsea has reportedly not abandoned their pursuit of Osimhen, yet the club must adhere to their wage structure for any potential deal. Originally, Chelsea considered bringing Osimhen on loan with a subsequent obligation to buy, but Al Ahli advanced with a four-year contract offer valued at around £33.6 million per season, or £646,154 per week, tax-free.

If the agreement with Toney is finalized, it would align with Napoli’s preference for Osimhen’s potential transfer.

Osimhen’s agent, Roberto Calenda, had previously noted that the player still has much to achieve in Europe, which provided Chelsea a glimmer of hope to present a suitable offer.

Chelsea’s recent attempts to sign Osimhen have been hindered by their prior offers being deemed insufficient, suggesting a need to adjust to the new wage structure.

The club also faced setbacks as Al Ahli finalized their agreement with Toney. Toney’s contract with Brentford is set to expire in less than one year, and he has missed the initial games of the Premier League season.

However, questions remain regarding Al Ahli’s ability to complete both deals, as they currently lack the necessary slots for two foreign players unless one qualifies as Under-21. The Saudi Pro League allows each club to include only ten foreign players in a roster of 25.

Should Al Ahli decide to pursue both players, they would have to expedite a sale of a foreign player before the transfer deadline on Monday night.

In the event Chelsea loses out on both strikers, they might shift their focus to alternative targets as the summer transfer window approaches its end. Nevertheless, reports suggest Chelsea is content with their current squad, with any future signings dependent on fitting their strict financial framework.

Chelsea has been exploring other options, including Aston Villa‘s Jhon Duran and Everton‘s Dominic Calvert-Lewin this summer, amidst calls from pundits for the club to strengthen their striking options.