Sources: Chelsea have been scouting Ivan Toney
The Blues have been closely watching the new Premier League striker
Ivan Toney is one of the newest Premier League strikers, scoring 33 goals for Brentford last season to get them promoted from the Championship.
Many of his goals were being watched closely by Chelsea, who as well as a number of other clubs, had scouts watching Toney on a number of occasions in the last season or two.
We know that Chelsea are in the market for a new striker this summer, but that is very much believed to be a big-name forward such as Erling Haaland, Romelu Lukaku, or Harry Kane all mentioned as the main targets.
However, Toney is seen as a real talent and prospect by many at Chelsea. Now this is just me thinking out load, but I guess he could become an option for Chelsea should they maybe agree a deal to sign Haaland this summer, with him arriving next summer.
All if’s and but’s of course, but Toney has certainly become an option for Chelsea whether it be as a backup to replace Tammy Abraham and Olivier Giroud, or someone to come in as a regular.
Some at the club believe that Chelsea could be content with using Kai Havertz as a striker next season, if they cannot land a priority target. Under these circumstances, we could see a ‘Toney type’ signing. Transfer guru Fabrizio Romano is insistent that Chelsea WILL sign a new striker this summer.
This is not me claiming that Toney is now ahead of the likes of Haaland as a priority option for striker this summer, this still very much remains the Norwegian international.
But 25-year old Toney has certainly been scouted by Chelsea in recent months, so who knows where that could lead.
Simon Phillips