Arsenal could now challenge Chelsea for £50m player’s signature

Add as preferred source on Google

Chelsea face late competition from Premier League rivals Arsenal for one of their targets.

Chelsea have done a lot of business during this transfer window but are still trying to strengthen their squad ahead of Friday’s deadline.

Ideally, the Blues would like to add a striker to their ranks, with the club currently being linked with Napoli’s Victor Osimhen and Brentford’s Ivan Toney.

Manchester United are also interested in Toney, so there could end up being a real scrap for his signature soon.

• READ MORE: What Chelsea plan to do this week to try and sign Ivan Toney from Brentford

Arsenal ready to make move for Brentford’s Ivan Toney

As well as United and Chelsea, Arsenal also appear to have Toney on their radar, with Eddie Nketiah set to join Crystal Palace.

Journalist Simon Phillips has claimed on Substack that his “sources have heard” that the Gunners are preparing to make a late play for Toney.

It means Chelsea may need to hurry up if they want to sign the centre-forward. The problem is the club do not seem to have given up on Osimhen yet.

Chelsea are looking at different striker options, as Osimhen could decide to join Al-Ahli instead of them. But by the time they are ready to make a concrete move for Toney, his future may have already been decided. According to The Guardian, Brentford value their talisman at £50m.

Which team would Ivan Toney pick, Chelsea or Arsenal?

It could be a good season for Chelsea. They showed some really promising signs under Enzo Maresca last weekend in their 6-2 win against Wolverhampton Wanderers.

It is a season where the Blues are without Champions League football, though, whereas Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal have no such problem.

Toney also appears to be Chelsea’s second-choice option after their decision to prioritise signing Osimhen.

Ultimately, then, it is not hard to imagine the 28-year-old preferring to join Arsenal over their London rivals. There, he will get to play in the Champions League and may feel more valued, with the Gunners having not spent the whole of this transfer window looking at Osimhen like Chelsea have.