Chelsea, Al-Ahli target 'expected' to leave Premier League club this summer

Chelsea could reportedly rival Saudi Pro League club Al-Ahli for the signature of Brentford striker Ivan Toney this summer.

The England international, who has been the subject of much speculation throughout this summer, is facing an uncertain future at Brentford having now entered the final year of his contract.

Toney has established himself as an integral first-team star for the Bees since joining the club in 2020, scoring 72 goals in 141 appearances across all competitions.

After netting 20 Premier League goals in the 2022-23 campaign, Toney was banned for eight months from football for breaching betting rules, before returning in January of last season and chipping in with four goals in 17 top-flight outings.

The 28-year-old, who is now believed to be keen to make the next step in his career, was left out of Brentford's squad for a 2-1 win over Crystal Palace last weekend due to transfer speculation, according to manager Thomas Frank.

© Imago

Chelsea to be tempted by late Toney move?

Toney has recently been linked with a potential move to Saudi Arabia, with Al-Ahli understood to have seen an opening offer of £35m rejected by Brentford.

Both clubs remain in talks and Toney has allegedly made it clear that he will only agree to move to the Middle East if he is given 'astronomical' wages of over €20m (£17m), including bonuses and accommodation allowances.

It was reported earlier this summer that a host of top Premier League clubs were interested in signing Toney, including the likes of Arsenal, Manchester United, Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United.

Man United, Spurs and West Ham are said to have ended their interest in the striker, while it was understood that both Arsenal and Chelsea had turned their attention to other targets.

However, according to The Sun, Chelsea could yet be tempted into a late swoop for Toney before the transfer window in England shuts on August 30.

Chelsea are believed to be the only remaining Premier League club who still hold an interest in Toney and could rival Al-Ahli for his signature.

© Reuters

Toney a cheaper alterative to Osimhen for Chelsea?

The report adds that Brentford had initially valued Toney at around £70m at the beginning of the summer transfer window, but they are now prepared to drop their asking price to as low as £45m.

A separate report from The Guardian claims that Brentford are resigned to losing Toney this summer and expect him to join Al-Ahli, but they will hold of for around £50m.

Although a big-money move to Saudi Arabia would be financially life-changing for Toney, it is thought that the striker would favour the idea of remaining in England having now entered the prime years of his career.

Chelsea are known to be in the market for a new centre-forward and while Victor Osimhen is believed to be their primary target, an agreement with Napoli over a potential player-plus-cash deal involving Romelu Lukaku is yet to be reached.

Toney can be viewed by Enzo Maresca's side as a cheaper alternative to Osimhen, who is valued by Napoli at around £100m and has also been linked with both Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal.

Meanwhile, Chelsea are closing in on the signing of Atletico Madrid forward Joao Felix on a permanent deal, with midfielder Conor Gallagher given the green light to move in the opposite direction.

Written by
Oliver Thomas