Ivan Toney is set to return to training this weekend as his ban for gambling breaches eases up, and the Brentford striker is on the shortlist of plenty of Premier League clubs come January.
The striker is still banned from playing football until January 2024, but can return to first team training from next week and clubs are already aware that he could be on the market in the winter window.
The 27-year-old recently decided to change agents in a clear sign that a move is on the cards, and since he is only under contract with Brentford until 2025, Thomas Frank’s side would be happy to cash in on the striker in January, provided a club offered something close to their £80m asking price.
It has piqued the interest of a lot of clubs, but according to LondonWorld it is Chelsea that are leading the race, with ‘moves being made behind the scenes’ to help the striker make the switch to west London in the next transfer window.
Though Mauricio Pochettino’s side signed Nicolas Jackson in the summer, they have scored just five goals so far this season, three of which came against relegation candidates Luton Town.
There had been reports that they would target a more prominent striker over the summer, with the likes of Victor Osimhen, Randal Kolo-Muani and Dusan Vlahovic all linked with a Stamford Bridge switch.
It is unclear whether Toney would agree a move to west London though, and his eyes have previously been set on two clubs.
“The next club I go to if I was to move, it would be the right club. I’ve been a Liverpool fan my whole life but from young, I’ve liked Arsenal, watching Arsenal, how they play & how passionate the fans are”, he told the diary of a CEO podcast last month.
