Chelsea are keen on signing either Ivan Toney or Victor Osimhen in the January transfer window, but will have to sell one of the mainstays of Mauricio Pochettino’s team in order to do so.
The Blues want to recruit a new striker after scoring 26 goals in their opening 16 Premier League games – only Manchester United (18) have scored fewer among the Big Six clubs this season.
Brentford’s Toney has long been linked with the west London outfit, while recent reports suggest they have made Napoli’s Osimhen their ‘primary target’, but both forwards would command high transfer fees.
That presents an obstacle for Chelsea, who spent £400 million in the summer and may need to sell one of their own before signing new players in order to comply with Profit and Sustainability Rules.
One of the players for whom they are ‘prepared to consider offers’ is midfielder Conor Gallagher, according to the Mail.
Despite the 23-year-old becoming a regular in Pochettino’s team and wearing the captain’s armband a number of times, his contract expires in 2024 and is ‘yet to be formally offered a new deal’.
Gallagher’s status as a homegrown academy graduate makes him a valuable asset to sell on, as Chelsea can book a potential sale as full profit in their accounts. Tottenham have been touted as possible suitors.
Following a 2-0 defeat to Everton in the Premier League at the weekend, Pochettino suggested Chelsea will need to make additions in the January transfer window, particularly in the forward areas.
“Football is about scoring goals and we were not clinical in front of goal. I’m really, really disappointed,” the Argentine told BBC Match of the Day.
“We didn’t get the point we deserved. I think we were better but we didn’t get what we wanted. This was a game to play and to win. It’s a problem we need to check. We need to analyse the reality. We need to talk and to try to improve in the next transfer market.”
