Chelsea's decision on next striker made harder after Osimhen's injury blow

25 October 2023 , 15:06

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Victor Osimhen has been linked with a move to Chelsea (Image: Getty Images)

Chelsea are looking to strengthen their forward line in the upcoming January transfer window and the likes of Victor Osimhen and Ivan Toney have both been linked with a move to Stamford Bridge.

Both players are currently out of action, with Toney serving an eight-month ban for breaching the FA's betting rules while Osimhen picked up a hamstring injury earlier this month while on international duty.

The 24-year-old limped off during Nigeria's 2-2 draw with Saudi Arabia and has missed Napoli's last two games as a result. And according to Il Mattino, Osimhen is set for an extended spell on the sidelines.

The report claims he could be out for at least another month, with Osimhen unlikely to recover in time for Napoli's Serie A clash with Atalanta on November 25. And the club do not want to take any risks by rushing Osimhen back before he is fully fit.

The injury could affect any potential January move and persuade Chelsea to focus their attention on Toney instead, particularly if Osimhen suffers any further setbacks. Toney is back training with Brentford and he will be able to play football again in the new year.

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The 27-year-old is a proven Premier League goalscorer, having netted 20 league goals for Thomas Frank's side last season, and he is keen on a move. Toney recently signed with super agent Jonathan Barnett's CAA Stellar agency and told the Diary of a CEO podcast in August: "Everyone wants to play at the top of the tree.

"The manager knows that I want to play at the highest level possible and whenever that time comes, so be it. My time at Brentford has been probably the best of my career. The next club I go to will be the right club."

Brentford's Ivan Toney is also on Chelsea's radar (PA)

And Frank has also admitted Brentford are willing to sell if they receive a suitable bid. "I think every club in the world are a selling club except five or six clubs," Frank said on Sky Sports' Monday Night Football last month.

"We are a selling club, if the right price is there and I think it's the right time for the players to go. But I think if players have developed well with us and been on the journey, and they've proven good enough to go to the top clubs, then I think it's the right thing, if we get the right price.

"I understand why there are a lot of rumours out there about him. For me, I think he's one of the best strikers." However, Chelsea are not the only club interested in Toney as Mirror Football understands that Arsenal are also eyeing a January move for the forward.

Matthew Cooper