Chelsea are reportedly confident about their chances of completing a deal for Brentford attacker Ivan Toney during the January transfer window.
The Blues underwent a significant period of change in the forward areas over the summer, offloading Christian Pulisic, Kai Havertz, Mason Mount, Callum Hudson-Odoi and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang on permanent deals.
Meanwhile, all of Hakim Ziyech, Romelu Lukaku, Mason Burstow and David Datro Fofana left the club on loan to make room for a host of new arrivals, including Nicolas Jackson, Christopher Nkunku and Deivid Washington.
However, Chelsea have still been left light up top in the early stages of the campaign owing to Nkunku's serious knee injury, forcing Jackson and Raheem Sterling to shoulder the attacking burden.
Despite showing signs of promise, Jackson has scored just one goal for his new club in the Premier League and has lacked ruthlessness in his early days at Chelsea, who have won just one of their opening five matches.
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The Blues are languishing in 14th in the table owing to their mediocre start, and another striker is expected to be high on the club's agenda during the January window.
According to talkSPORT, Chelsea are optimistic that Toney will be at Stamford Bridge for the second half of the season, as the England international runs down the second half of his lengthy betting ban.
Toney has not seen the field since the end of the 2022-23 season owing to a spate of gambling offences, which landed him an eight-month suspension, of which he has already served half of.
While the 27-year-old cannot return to competitive action until January, he is now able to take to the training pitches again, and Chelsea apparently plan to make their move as early as possible in the winter window to beat any other potential suitors to his signature.
Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur have also been linked with a swoop for Toney, who remains under contract with Brentford until 2025, and the Bees will reportedly demand £60m to let him depart midway through the season.
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However, Frank recently confirmed to Sky Sports News that Toney could be allowed to depart for a suitable fee, saying: "So far we've only sold one in the Premier League, that was David Raya – or that's a loan but probably will be a sale in the future, I guess.
"I think every club in the world are a selling club except five or six clubs. We are a selling club, if the right price is there. I think if it's the right time for the player to go, from my perspective that's not my decision that would be Phil [Giles, director of football] or Matthew [Benham, Brentford's owner].
"In the end, then I think if they have developed well with us, been on the journey, and now they're proven good enough to go to the top clubs, then I think it's the right thing, if it's the right price."
Brentford acquired Toney's services for just £4.9m in 2020, and the former Newcastle United striker has come up with 68 goals and 21 assists in 124 appearances for the Bees since.
Toney made his first and only appearance for England to date in a Euro 2024 qualifying win over Ukraine in March, coming on as a late substitute for Harry Kane.
Ben Knapton
