As per a Tweet from journalist Simon Phillips, via Graeme Bailey (h/t Football.London), Brentford striker Ivan Toney is among the four attackers on the transfer wishlist of Chelsea ahead of the January transfer window.
The others are – Rafael Leao, Marcus Thuram and Victor Osimhen. The links with the former have been ongoing since the summer while prizing the latter away from Napoli would be hard work considering Napoli’s position of strength at the moment.
Toney, who did not make it to the England World Cup squad, is having a great season for the Bees. The 26-year-old has scored 10 goals and assisted two in 14 league appearances this season, including a match-winning brace against Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday.
Since Diego Costa left, Chelsea have had an issue finding a striker who can constantly score 20+ goals per season for them. This summer, they signed Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang on the summer deadline day, but the former Arsenal striker has just three goals and one assist in 12 appearances in all competitions so far.
Moreover, manager Graham Potter did not bring the 33-year-old on from the bench against Newcastle United even though the Blues were trailing for the last 25 minutes.
Other options Kai Havertz and Armando Broja are not doing any better as well. As a result of that, Chelsea have scored just 17 goals in 14 league games. That sort of goal-scoring rate is generally of a team in the bottom half of the table. The Blues are currently eighth anyway.
So, it would make sense if the club is looking to sign a striker in the January transfer window. Toney fits the bill in a season where he is physically strong, has good pace, is a good finder of space in the box and has different ways to finish off the chances. He could form a good partnership with the likes of Mason Mount and Raheem Sterling up front.
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