On this day, it is reported that Chelsea is considering a shift in their focus towards the acquisition of Ivan Toney from Brentford, as they recognize the potential risks involved in the Osimhen deal.

Ivan Toney has long been on the radar of several Premier League giants. Arsenal, Manchester United, and Chelsea have all been willing to offer astronomical sums to convince Brentford to part ways with the player. Recently, Brentford announced their desired price range for this transfer, which falls between £80 million and £85 million. There are rumors that Chelsea is highly interested in the English striker and is prepared to spend a significant amount to bring Toney to Stamford Bridge. However, in order to secure Toney for over £80 million, Chelsea would need to offload some players to ensure compliance with financial fair play regulations.

Chelsea’s manager, Mauricio Pochettino, is believed to have informed the club’s leadership that Toney is a player capable of taking the team to new heights. Pochettino believes that Toney can bring changes to the squad and help Chelsea become a formidable contender in the race for the championship. This also implies that Chelsea will abandon the opportunity to sign Victor Osimhen from Napoli. Osimhen’s price tag is considerably higher than Toney’s. Furthermore, negotiating with Napoli’s chairman, De Laurentis, has never been a straightforward matter and would consume a significant amount of time in the negotiation process for Chelsea.

In addition to Chelsea, Arsenal is also rumored to be interested in Ivan Toney to enhance their attacking options, as Gabriel Jesus and Nketiah may not be sufficient for the ambitions of manager Mikel Arteta. Manchester United is closely monitoring the situation of the English striker and could potentially intervene in the deal at any time.

The latest information confirms that Ivan Toney is currently “undecided” about his future and has not yet chosen his desired destination for the next phase of his career. A close source to the player reveals that Toney feels a “sense of obligation” towards Brentford and manager Thomas Frank, which means that any transfer could potentially be delayed until the summer transfer window of 2024.

This source also adds that Brentford does not feel pressured to sell Toney, so they will only engage in negotiations if a club meets their requested price of £80 million.