Chelsea Pursues Ivan Toney As Striker Target Ahead of Transfer Deadline

Chelsea Football Club is reportedly making a late move to acquire Brentford and England striker Ivan Toney as the summer transfer deadline approaches.

The club is in search of a proven goalscorer to fill the pivotal No. 9 position, having previously expressed interest in Napoli striker Victor Osimhen.

Toney, aged 28, has less than a year remaining on his contract with Brentford and was excluded from the squad for the club’s opening matches against Crystal Palace and Liverpool.

Whilst Toney has received an attractive financial offer from Saudi Arabian side Al Ahli, Chelsea’s bid is focused on providing Premier League football and the opportunity to remain in West London.

Brentford’s valuation for Toney has not yet been met by Al Ahli, despite their interest in adding him to their squad, which includes several former Premier League players.

Brentford manager Thomas Frank remained non-committal regarding Toney’s future, stating, “Today, we have nothing to say about Ivan Toney.”

Furthermore, Chelsea’s need for a No. 9 is emphasized by the historical struggles to find a consistent striker, with no player reaching the 20-goal mark in a Premier League season since Diego Costa in the 2016/17 season.

Although Chelsea has explored options, including Osimhen, Toney’s familiarity with the Premier League and impressive goalscoring record makes him an appealing candidate.

Significantly, Toney scored 20 goals for Brentford in the 2022/23 Premier League season, placing him among a select group of elite strikers in the league.