Chelsea ‘make a move for Ivan Toney’ to add ANOTHER player to their inflated squad as they fight off interest from Saudi Arabia for the Brentford striker

Chelsea have reportedly made a move to sign Ivan Toney from Brentford. 

Toney has been touted to leave the Bees this summer, but no deal has yet been agreed with Brentford. However, several parties – including Chelsea – are interested. 

The Blues are said to be looking to add a proven goal-scorer to their ranks for the 2024-2025 season and believe Toney could be a good fit, according to Sky Sports. 

According to Sky Sports, Toney will ‘fit into Chelsea’s wage structure’ and the transfer fee for the 28-year-old ‘will be reasonable’. 

However, the addition of Toney would see Chelsea’s squad size inflate further – having already been criticised for having too many players. 

The addition of Toney would see Chelsea’s squad size inflate further – having already been criticised for having too many players

The £60million-rated striker (pictured above) is also wanted by Al Ahli in Saudi Arabia

Chelsea currently have an eye-watering 43 players on their books, yet only 28 were selected for the club’s recent preseason tour.

This situation has led to several players, including Romelu Lukaku and Kepa Arrizabalaga, being forced to train separately as Chelsea scramble to find solutions. 

Therefore, it remains to be seen whether Toney will want to enter into an environment like that.  

Additionally, Chelsea will face stiff competition for his signature with the £60million-rated striker is wanted by Al Ahli in Saudi Arabia. 

Al Ahli are reportedly willing to offer Toney a three-year deal, which would see him join the likes of Edouard Mendy, Riyad Mahrez and Roberto Firmino in Saudi Arabia.

Should the deal with Al Ahli not materialise, Toney has made it clear he still wants to leave Brentford. However, he is running out of time to get a deal done. 

Toney is hoping wherever he ends up, he can further his career – having started at Northampton Town before earning a move to Newcastle United in 2015. 

However, he struggled to break into Newcastle’s first team and was loaned to various lower-league clubs to gain more regular minutes. 

His breakthrough came at Peterborough United, where he became a prolific goal-scorer, which earned him a move to Brentford in 2020. 

Toney (pictured right) was left out of Thomas Frank’s (pictured left) squad for Brentford’s opening Premier League game of the season against Crystal Palace 

At Brentford, Toney excelled, breaking the Championship single-season scoring record and helping the club secure promotion to the Premier League. 

He continued his impressive form in the English top-flight, cementing his reputation as one of England’s most clinical strikers.

However, Toney’s career hit a setback in 2023 when he was handed an eight-month ban from football after being found guilty of breaching the Football Association’s betting rules.

The 28-year-old was charged with 232 betting offenses between 2017 and 2021, during his time with various clubs. An extra 30 charges were added a month later.

Toney admitted to the majority of the breaches, leading to his eight-month suspension from the sport and a £50,000 fine. 

Brentford stood by Toney during the incident and he returned to the club once allowed to do so. However, it seems his future lies elsewhere.