Chelsea considering alternatives to Ivan Toney for January transfer
Chelsea might have to consider other alternatives in their quest for a new forward, as it seems unlikely that they will be able to acquire the services of Ivan Toney from Brentford. The club is expected to retain Toney until the end of the season, and there are concerns regarding his valuation. According to The Mirror, Chelsea’s attempts to sign a high-profile forward for Mauricio Pochettino in January are facing further obstacles. While plans for the upcoming transfer window are being formulated behind the scenes, it appears that Chelsea may have to wait until the summer of 2024 to secure their preferred long-term choice for Pochettino’s project. After completing his FA suspension, Toney is scheduled to make a comeback in mid-January. With Mbeumo and Wissa, his fellow Brentford teammates, departing for the Africa Cup of Nations, his significance within the team has become even more crucial. It would defy logic for the Brentford manager, Thomas Frank, to trade Toney in the midst of the season since it would greatly diminish their attacking choices for approximately four Premier League games. Reports indicate that Brentford currently assess Toney’s worth at £100m, although proposals around £80m might be taken into account. Due to this outcome, Chelsea might have to contemplate other possibilities including Santiago Gimenez from Feyenoord, Victor Boniface from Bayer Leverkusen, and Benjamin Sesko from RB Leipzig, all of whom have proven themselves as successful goal scorers in Europe.
In unrelated news, Antoine Griezmann, the forward for Atletico Madrid, who has been rumored to potentially join Manchester United in January, has expressed his intention to remain with his current club. According to The Mail, Griezmann aspires to become an esteemed figure at Atletico Madrid and has experienced a revival in his performance under the guidance of Diego Simeone. Griezmann’s goal this season is to score eight times in 12 games, bringing happiness to the fans and securing championships for Atletico by 2024.
According to The Express, Donny van de Beek, a midfielder for Manchester United, is contemplating his future at Old Trafford due to his ongoing struggle for playing time. Van de Beek recognizes the option of leaving United in the upcoming months if he fails to make it into Erik ten Hag’s team. Although he has no regrets about joining Old Trafford, Van de Beek is eager to play and is willing to potentially depart in January. He holds the belief that he should commence participating in matches in the near future, whether it is with Manchester United or a different club, and conveys his determination to create a significant influence on the field.
According to The Sun, it has been brought to light that Said Benrahma from West Ham is now being pursued by clubs in the Saudi Pro League. If a suitable offer presents itself, the Algerian winger could potentially become the next Premier League player to transfer to Saudi Arabia. Benrahma’s newly appointed representative has established relationships with prominent Saudi clubs and recently had a meeting with West Ham manager David Moyes.