Chelsea have been urged to sign Ivan Toney from Brentford to solve Graham Potter's attacking problems. The Blues have won just two of their previous 13 Premier League fixtures and find themselves suffering without a natural number nine.
Saturday's 1-1 draw with West Ham leaves Chelsea ten points behind fourth-placed Newcastle United with 16 games remaining, despite over £300million spent in the January transfer window. Enzo Fernandez arrived for a club-record fee worth £106m on deadline day after the likes of Mykhailo Mudryk, Joao Felix, Noni Madueke and Malo Gusto all arrived as part of Todd Boehly's continued overhaul.
Chelsea squandered a number of chances at the London Stadium and dominated proceedings for large parts of the game. However, there seemed a constant lack of a presence in attack with Kai Havertz taking up his usual false 9 role.
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football.london understands that Christopher Nkunku has signed a pre-contract agreement with the club and will make the switch from RB Leipzig in time for the 2023/24 season. However, Chelsea have been urged to move for Toney after his dazzling displays for Thomas Frank's side.
The No.9 position has proved a difficult role to take up at Stamford Bridge, with Romelu Lukaku and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang the latest to feel the wrath in attack. The Belgian struggled for game time last season and is currently out on loan at Inter whilst Aubameyang's exclusion from Chelsea's Champions League squad has created doubt over his future.
After Toney grabbed his 14th Premier League goal of the season against Arsenal, former Blues forward Tony Cascarino has claimed the English striker could be the 'missing piece of the jigsaw'.
Speaking to The Times, he said: "Their performance away to West Ham – particularly in the first 20 minutes – was much improved but they are still crying out for a striker. Ivan Toney could be the missing piece of the jigsaw.
"With runners off him such as Mykhailo Mudryk and Joao Felix and quality deliveries into the box, the Brentford forward would thrive at Chelsea.
"He is so strong in the air, loves to get in behind and has the confidence and swagger to succeed at a top club.
"The problem for potential suitors is the threat of a lengthy ban after being charged with more than 200 alleged breaches of betting rules.
"Should he be cleared or have served his punishment by the end of the season, I would expect him to command a huge transfer fee."
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