Chelsea identify 26-year-old striker to succeed Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang

Chelsea identify Brentford striker Ivan Toney as Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang replacement next summer

According to journalist Pete O’Rourke (h/t Football.London), Chelsea have identified Brentford striker Ivan Toney as a long-term replacement for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang next summer.

Back in August, Mirror reported that the Blues were interested in signing Toney and were preparing a bid. But, former manager Thomas Tuchel prioritised signing Aubameyang, which they eventually did on the deadline day.

The German is replaced by Graham Potter and the interest in the Brentford man is back. The 26-year-old Englishman, who was unfortunate to miss out on a place in the England squad for the World Cup, has had an excellent season for the Bees.

The 26-year-old scored 11 goals and assisted three in 16 appearances in all competitions in the first half of the campaign, including a match-winning brace against champions Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium at the weekend just before the World Cup break.

After the departure of Timo Werner and Romelu Lukaku, Chelsea signed Aubameyang to add goals to the team that was lacking last season. However, the 33-year-old has had a stop-start beginning to his life at Stamford Bridge. He has only scored three goals in 12 appearances in all competitions so far.

If the Blues are to progress and challenge for league titles, they would require a centre-forward who can constantly score goals and be a menace in and around the opposition box.

The two best teams in England in the last five years have been Liverpool and Manchester City. Both teams have multiple goal threats and variety in their forward line.

Having seen how good he has been in the Premier League since getting promoted with Brentford, Toney can be a good bet to bring goals and a different dimension to the team. He can work the channels, be a penalty-box striker and can drop deep to link play-up as well.

More Chelsea News:

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• Thiago Silva out to prove the doubters wrong in the World Cup after his Chelsea move was questioned

We would love to see the Englishman in a Chelsea shirt come next summer. He is currently under investigation by the FA for betting-related offences. If found guilty, his career could bear the brunt in one way or the other – be it financially or something serious.