Chelsea and Arsenal are showing interest in Ivan Toney

The footballer currently sidelined due to a suspension. Toney, who came close to representing England in the 2022 Qatar World Cup, last played on May 6 against Liverpool.

Although the recent transfer window closed less than a month ago, football clubs never cease their planning for the upcoming January transfer window, a crucial time to finish the season strongly and potentially clinch titles. Both Chelsea and Arsenal began the 2023/24 season with different objectives, but they share a common interest in a central striker.

That player is Ivan Toney, a 27-year-old who is under contract with Brentford until 2025. Notably, he was suspended until January 17, 2024, for violating the betting rules of the English Football Association on 232 occasions, resulting in a £50,000 fine. Toney made his England debut in the lead-up to the Qatar 2022 World Cup.

Toney played a pivotal role for “The Bees” during the 2022/23 season, helping them establish themselves as a formidable Premier League team, narrowly missing out on European competitions. He concluded the previous Premier League season with an impressive tally of 20 goals and 4 assists, despite his team’s primarily defensive approach.

According to transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano, both Arsenal and Chelsea have inquired about the terms of a potential transfer once Toney’s suspension is lifted. Brentford has indicated that they will seek a fee close to €60 million. While this amount is within the financial reach of both clubs, it is still a substantial figure for a player who will have almost eight months of competitive inactivity.