Chelsea to Compete for Brentford Striker Ivan Toney in 2024 Transfer Battle

Chelsea is gearing up for a fierce battle with Tottenham, Arsenal, and Manchester United in the race to sign Brentford striker Ivan Toney in 2024, according to sources close to Football Insider.

Reports surfaced recently that the Blues are preparing to compete with their Premier League counterparts for the 27-year-old’s signature. However, it’s believed that Mauricio Pochettino’s free-spending side may have an edge in securing Toney due to their financial resources, while Arsenal is hesitant to overspend if the deal doesn’t align with their valuation.

Interest in Ivan Toney is expected to surge in the upcoming January transfer window, but negotiations could be challenging, as Brentford is rumored to be demanding a fee exceeding £70 million for the prolific striker.

Chelsea, despite Nicolas Jackson’s impressive hat-trick in the recent 4-1 victory over Tottenham, remains keen on adding a new striker to their squad in the near future. With Christopher Nkunku also on the mend from a long-term injury, the Blues are looking to bolster their forward options to mount a serious challenge at the top of the Premier League.

Nicolas Jackson, 22, has scored six goals in 13 appearances for Chelsea but has missed several golden opportunities during the early stages of the 2023-24 campaign.

Ivan Toney, on the other hand, is currently serving a ban and cannot participate in competitive football until January 16. Despite his suspension, he has resumed training with his Brentford teammates. Toney’s absence from competitive play dates back to May when he was hit with an eight-month ban due to a gambling rule violation.

The English international had an outstanding season last year, tallying 21 goals and five assists in 35 appearances across all competitions, including an impressive 20-goal haul in the Premier League. Toney, known for his remarkable 93.5% penalty conversion rate, is under contract with Brentford until June 2025.