Chelsea facing major problem beating Arsenal to Ivan Toney and set for similar issue with ‘first choice’ target Victor Osimhen

Chelsea, Arsenal linked Brentford striker Ivan Toney

Chelsea will reportedly need to ‘shatter’ their wage structure in order to beat Arsenal to the signing of Ivan Toney and are likely to face the same issue with Victor Osimhen.

Mauricio Pochettino’s side have already made an approach to sign Toney ahead of the January transfer window but they face strong competition from their London rivals, while Tottenham are also interested but will likely get priced out of any deal.

Brentford are currently demanding £80million for their leading striker, who scored 20 goals in the Premier League last season and is desperate for a big move. However, Toney is currently banned until the middle of January for breaking betting rules.

Osimhen is also on Chelsea’s radar after his impressive performances for Napoli and the Nigeria international has already left the door open to a potential switch to the Premier League next year.

The Telegraph’s Matt Law claims that Osimhen is Pochettino’s first-choice target but Chelsea’s current wage structure would prevent them from what would be a real coup of a signing.

“Here’s where I am with Osimhen, I don’t know this for pure fact but I’ve got a good source on it, I think Osimhen would be Pochettino’s first choice,” Law said on the London Is Blue podcast.

“Actually, [Kylian] Mbappe would be Pochettino’s first choice but that ain’t going to happen. He loves Mbappe. I think if you asked Pochettino who he would have in his team out of Mbappe and Harry Kane he would go Mbappe. He absolutely loves Mbappe.

“But let’s be real. Talking realistically, Osimhen is Pochettino’s first choice.

“I don’t see it [for] January. Just because… and I know Napoli talk a lot on transfers, they deny a lot of things and then do the opposite, I know, but I think that transfer in January is probably very difficult to do in terms of what you’d have to pay, both the club and him, and also their reluctance to do it.

“In the summer, as long as he doesn’t go anywhere else, I could really see Osimhen in Chelsea. Because I think at the moment convincing Osimhen to join Chelsea even might be tricky, just because in his eyes he looks at the table, they are a mid-table football club at the moment, we know they’re not a mid-table club, realistically they’re not a mid-table team, but if he’s looking at it in January they might be sat in mid-table.”

Law also reports that it will be interesting to watch how Chelsea work around their current wage structure to try and get a deal done.

DON’T MISS: Every signing Chelsea have made since Todd Boehly took over at Stamford Bridge

Chelsea face big decision on wage structure

He added: “The biggest problem Chelsea have with all this, and this is what’s going to be fascinating, is the wage structure.

“They are not going to be able to sign a top striker within their wage structure. They are not even going to be able to sign Ivan Toney in their wage structure. Ivan Toney isn’t moving to Chelsea on £100,000 a week, or £120,000 a week, or £90,000 and millions in bonuses if they win the Champions League and win the league. Ivan Toney has got one big last opportunity at a contract, he’s going for £150,000 to £200,000 a week plus, and that’s where he’s going.

“Similarly, you have to imagine with Osimhen, if he comes to England he’s chasing the big money. He turned down Saudi Arabia in the summer, now that was more a football decision, but they would have been offering him absolute fortunes, he’s not joining Chelsea on £100,000, £120,000, £130,000 a week either.

“None of the A-list or even B-list strikers are coming for that money. I find this really interesting. Chelsea are going to have to shatter that wage structure that they’ve implemented elsewhere in the team to sign the type of striker that they and Pochettino will want, unless they’re going to take a chance on someone, but there’s no point in doing that, they’ve got that guy, they’ve got Jackson, that’s the guy they took a chance on and it might still work. But there’s no point signing another Jackson.

“If they get a striker, for me, it has to be an elite striker and they’ll have to shatter their wage structure and manage that situation.

“I personally would be extremely surprised by Osimhen in January. I do think he’s Pochettino’s first choice, and I do think there’s a chance for the end of the season if Chelsea can decide what they’re going to do on their wages.”

Chelsea will be back in action on November 25 when they head to Newcastle in the Premier League.

READ MORE: Chelsea jump ahead of rivals after holding talks with family of explosive LaLiga attacking target

Ivan Toney Victor Osimhen

Related Articles