Chelsea "looking at" signing "very intelligent" £40m "lion", Boehly could ditch Lukaku - opinion

Chelsea are in desperate need of reinforcements in their team after a poor start in the Premier League has left them eighth in the league table and now a new update has emerged on a potential new transfer target who could save the season.

What’s the latest?

According to journalist Pete O’Rourke, Chelsea are “looking at” the potential of bringing in a number nine, and signing Brentford striker Ivan Toney could be an option.

O’Rourke told GIVEMESPORT:

“I think Chelsea long-term will be looking to bring in a number nine, probably this summer.

“I don’t think Pierre Emerick Aubameyang is the long-term answer due to his form and his age probably.

“So, I think Chelsea will be looking at him [Toney]. If you’re looking at Premier League strikers and ones that are probably more gettable than others, Ivan Toney definitely comes into the reckoning.”

Boehly can finally ditch Lukaku

If Chelsea are serious about targeting a brand new number nine in the summer of 2023, it could spell the end of the £97.5m nightmare featuring Romelu Lukaku as Todd Boehly could ditch the banished striker who is currently on a season-long loan with Inter Milan after a disastrous return to Stamford Bridge.

Toney has been a stand-out performer in the Premier League this season with Brentford and has been constantly put into conversations about the potential of going to the World Cup in Qatar with England over the last few months, but ultimately missed out.

Despite the snub from Gareth Southgate, it is without question that the forward, who is thought to be valued at around £40m, has the talent to take the next step in his career and Chelsea could provide that if they do make a move for the goal machine.

Over 14 league appearances, Toney has scored 10 goals, delivered two assists and created six big chances, as well as averaging 1.1 key passes, 1.1 clearances, 2.9 shots and 6.1 duels won per game, with only Harry Kane and Erling Haaland scoring more goals than the Bees star so far.

The 26-year-old has been the recipient of high praise for his performances at the Brentford Community Stadium over the last 18 months, with manager Thomas Frank hailing Toney a “lion” and “very intelligent” in an analysis of the striker’s form:

“Ivan is very intelligent, because he’s reflecting, and he deserves a lot of praise himself for also coming into a well-run club and listening to all the small bits and adding extra layers to his development and performance.”

“He’s coming across so fantastically: he’s humble, calm, but with a mindset of a lion.”

So far, the Blues have scored the fewest amount of goals in the top half of the table despite signing Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang and Raheem Sterling in the summer to strengthen the attacking threat.

With that being said, if Toney continues to score at the rate he has this season there is no doubt that Chelsea will be interested in snapping up his services in the summer, as he could be the long-term solution to one of the club’s biggest problems on the pitch.

Source

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