Chelsea have identified Ivan Toney as a long-term replacement for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, according to reports. The Brentford talisman was heavily linked with an exit from Thomas Frank's side in the summer but a move failed to materialise.
According to the Mirror in August, the Blues were weighing up a bid for Toney amid the departures of Romelu Lukaku and Timo Werner. But, former Blues boss Thomas Tuchel prioritised and pushed for the signing of Aubameyang instead.
With the German no longer in the dug out, journalist Pete O’Rourke has reported that Chelsea will be back in the market for a new striker in the summer. And, Toney has been referenced as a target of the Blues' as Graham Potter looks to bolster his frontline.
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Todd Boehly has been assured that signing the 26-year-old, who is said to have a £40million asking price, will give Chelsea a huge boost towards lifting the Premier League title. Speaking on the 'The Hard Truth' podcast, Peterborough United chairman Darragh MacAnthony insisted that the striker is the perfect heir to Didier Drogba's throne.
MacAnthony oversaw Toney's breakthrough into the EFL, scoring 49 goals in 94 appearances for the Posh. The Peterborough United chief said: "Ivan is on a different level.
"Is there a better number nine at Chelsea? Is there a better number nine at Manchester United? Chelsea are looking great under Potter, but they don't have a number nine like a Drogba.
"Ivan Toney is Chelsea's Drogba, I'm telling you right now. Remember what type of player Drogba was, look at Toney, the physicality, leading the line, and giving defenders nightmares. Everything about him, big goals at big moments, a leader and a match-winner.
"I don't think a lot of clubs have £100 million to spend in January. The only one would be Chelsea if Todd Boehly has any sense with his people. It's really funny because we tried to sell him, Brighton, when Graham Potter was there. We had Barry Fry try and contact the owner, but he was out in Australia.
"I know he wasn't a happy man because when he got back, he had missed calls off Baz, and nobody at the time said to him he had missed calls, and I know they feel they missed out on one. I think if Ivan Toney went into the Chelsea team, they could battle with Man City. Get Toney to Chelsea, and they would win the title in the next two years."
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