Chelsea are once more in the market for a striker this summer as they continue to look at options to lead the line for Mauricio Pochettino next season. Having failed to effectively replace Diego Costa six years ago and the amount of money spent since, it has been an unhappy area of the pitch.
Since the Spaniard left in 2017 no player has matched his 20 goal a season haul with only Eden Hazard getting close. Since then academy graduate Tammy Abraham has netted 15 non-penalty strikes but the tallies since then have been woeful.
Jorginho finished as the top scorer in 2020/21 with seven goals, all of those from the spot. Mason Mount put up a more respectable total of 11 last year but as a Cobham graduate and attacking midfielder rather than striker, it made a mockery of the investment in Romelu Lukaku, Timo Werner and Kai Havertz.
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Having come into this year with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Armando Broja as the orthodox strike duo, the return hasn't gotten any better. Aubameyang has one league goal this season having been exiled for most of the campaign, Broja had one before injury put an end to his year early.
Havertz has played as the No.9 in most games since and has been part of one of the most dysfunctional attacks in the league. With three games left to play it is his total of seven that leads the way for the Blues, Raheem Sterling has six but has only scored in four league games.
With Aubameyang and Havertz both potentially on their way out this summer, a new focal point is needed for Pochettino heading into pre-season and one man being heavily considered is Brentford's Ivan Toney. The 27-year-old has 20 league goals with six from the spot. He got 12 last year in his first Premier League season.
It is a set of numbers and performances that attracted Chelsea last summer but no bid was made, his price has shot up again having impressed throughout England's leagues.
“£100m plus," said his manager, Thomas Frank, when asked about how much he was valued at. "I adore Ivan, and I think what he has accomplished here is amazing, but there is still more he can do. I’m overjoyed that he plays for Brentford.
“There are those players who push themselves further and further each time they reach a new level.
“He performed well in League One, moved on to the Championship, scored 12 goals in his debut season in the Premier League, has 20 goals presently, and hopefully scores more. Where does it stop? He is quite talented.”
His goals and impressive displays have seen Manchester United linked with making him their new striker as well. The big issue for both sides is a fresh eight-month ban handed to the player from the FA over 232 breaches of betting guidelines.
A statement from the FA confirmed the decision and a £50,000 fine for the striker, who will now be suspended from all footballing and football-related activities until January 2024.
It is an issue that will cause problems for Chelsea, who are aware of the remaining two-years on his deal at Brentford making him a real option this summer.
Previous betting bans have been handed out to English players including Kieran Trippier - 10 weeks in 2020 - and Joey Barton - 18 months reduced to 13 on appeal. It leaves both club and player in limbo heading into the window as Pochettino prepares for the new season.
Chelsea travel to America for their tour in just under two months time and will have decisions over Lukaku, Victor Osimhen, Toney and more striker options to make in that time. Chelsea and Manchester United have also been linked with a move for Tottenham forward Harry Kane due to Spurs' poor season and perilous contract stance.
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