Chelsea will not follow up their interest in signing Brentford forward Ivan Toney following the forward’s suspension for breaching gambling rules.
Toney has been banned from all football activities for eight months after admitting to 232 breaches of the FA’s betting rules and will be suspended until January 16. The FA are set to appeal to FIFA to enforce the suspension worldwide, with the current sanctions for English football.
Chelsea had considered signing Toney this summer as the west Londoners look to bring in a centre-forward for new manager Mauricio Pochettino, but the Evening Standard are reporting that the club will move on to alternatives in the wake of the 27-year-old’s ban.
Victor Osimhen has been named as a potential transfer target after an exceptional season for Serie A champions Napoli. The Nigeria international is the leading scorer in Italy’s top division for a Napoli side who won the title for the first time since 1990. He is valued at around €150m in Naples.
Chelsea also have interest in Inter Milan forward Lautaro Martinez, who scored against AC Milan in midweek to seal the Nerazzurri’s place in the Champions League final.
Chelsea have struggled for goals this season with only three teams – Wolves, Everton and Southampton – having managed less than their 36 goals from 35 games.
Toney had been on the club’s shortlist of solutions to their goalscoring issues, having hit 20 goals in the Premier League this season. Only Erling Haaland (36) and Harry Kane (27) have scored more.
