Chelsea could launch DESPERATE bid for BANNED Toney
Tom Weber
- Updated: 30 Aug 2023 10:10 BST
- 4 min read
Chelsea could launch a late bid for banned Brentford striker Ivan Toney, according to a report.
The 27-year-old is currently serving a football ban until January 2024 over gambling offences, but that has not stopped big clubs from weighing up a move for the Brentford sharpshooter.
Toney hit an impressive 20 goals for the Bees last term, which has unsurprisingly seen him linked with some of the Premier League's big hitters. Indeed, FootballTransfers was able to reveal last week that Manchester United are plotting a January move for Toney in a bid to further strengthen their offensive ranks following the acquisition of young striker Rasmus Hojlund.
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Now, it is being claimed that Chelsea too have a concrete interest in making a move, and they are trying to steal a march on Man Utd by launching a bid in the coming days.
Chelsea's forward search
Like United, Chelsea are keen to add firepower to their squad. Thus far, the Blues' attack only really impressed against lowly Luton despite the addition of Nicolas Jackson.
After being rejected by Crystal Palace star Michael Olise, the Blues are seeking different options. Nottingham Forest's Brennan Johnson is a player they appreciate, according to Fabrizio Romano, but Chelsea have not made a concrete approach.
The Independent now reports, however, that this could change and that they "may yet move for Johnson depending on how far they get with bigger targets up front, as Mauricio Pochettino wants a forward who can play across the attack."
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More intriguingly, the report states that Ivan Toney is also an option and that "there is an increasing feeling a deal could be struck in the last few days in the window, although Brentford would want £80m."
Whether Chelsea are able - or willing - to cough up that fee after another summer of lavish spending remains to be seen, but this would certainly be an eyebrow-raising and potentially exciting move.
