Chelsea make Premier League rivals’ life easy in race for Brentford’s Ivan Toney

Chelsea drop out of the race for Brentford star Ivan Toney, handing the initiative to Manchester United

Ivan Toney’s potential departure from Brentford has caught the attention of Manchester United (h/t Express), who have received the nod from Premier League rivals Chelsea and Arsenal to pursue the striker. The addition of Toney would offer valuable support for Rasmus Hojlund in the Red Devils’ attacking lineup.

With Toney’s contract at Brentford set to expire in the next 12 months, the England international may be available at a discounted rate of £40 million to £50 million. This represents a significant increase from his initial transfer fee of £5 million when he joined Brentford from Peterborough in 2020.

Since his move to Brentford, Toney has proven himself as a prolific goal scorer and creative force, tallying an impressive 72 goals and 22 assists in 137 appearances. His track record of success has elevated him to the radar of top clubs across the Premier League, with Manchester United eyeing him as a potential solution to bolster their attacking options.

The January transfer window saw Arsenal and Chelsea emerge as frontrunners in the race for Ivan Toney; however, their interest has since cooled. Instead, Arsenal are also eyeing Benjamin Sesko of RB Leipzig and Viktor Gyokeres of Sporting as potential alternatives.

Similarly, Mauricio Pochettino’s side is exploring alternative options despite Toney’s availability for a fee between £40 million and £50 million in the upcoming transfer window.

Meanwhile, at Old Trafford, Anthony Martial’s contract is set to expire in late June, prompting Manchester United to seek reinforcements in the centre-forward position to support Rasmus Hojlund in the upcoming campaign.

Toney and Brentford have made it clear that any decision regarding the 28-year-old’s future will be made only after the conclusion of the season. Despite facing setbacks earlier in the season, including an eight-month ban for breaching betting rules, Toney has emerged as one of the Premier League’s top strikers.

Last season, Toney showcased his prowess by netting an impressive 20 goals and providing four assists in 33 appearances. However, his playing time was limited this season due to the ban, resulting in fewer opportunities on the pitch. Nonetheless, Toney still managed to make an impact, tallying four goals and one assist in 13 appearances.

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Toney’s experience and availability indeed make him an enticing prospect for any club in need of attacking reinforcement. However, it may be prudent for Chelsea to reconsider their pursuit of Toney, especially given their precarious financial situation and their recent struggles with Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations.

With Chelsea already grappling with the need to balance their books and avoid further breaches of FFP rules, investing heavily in Toney may not be the most financially sound decision at this time. The club is already taking steps to address their financial challenges by offloading players and managing their expenditures carefully.