One of the clubs that has been reckless in the transfer window of 2023 is Chelsea. The Blues have spent over € 1.06 billion in the summer and winter transfer windows combined. The club signed many talented players, and now they are eyeing Ivan Toney.
Ivan Toney is currently banned by FIFA as the player was found guilty of breaking FA rule E8. The rule prevents any player from placing bets on anything related to football this includes the outcome of matches, managerial appointments, sacking, etc. Toney has broken the rule not once, not twice, but 126 times! Chelsea, however, still believes that the player can help them become stronger and is keen on getting him on the pitch as soon as his ban ends.
Ivan Toney linked with a move to Chelsea
Chelsea’s transfer window this season has shocked everyone. The club spent over €400 million in the summer market of 2023. They signed 23 players and let go of 28. Kai Havertz and Mason Mount were some of the few veteran players who bode farewell to the club. The Blues brought in Christopher Nkunku as their main striker, but the player suffered a knee injury. The club is still out of attacking options and Ivan Toney looks like a great choice.
🚨 Chelsea are interested in signing Ivan Toney from Brentford even though he's not allowed to play until 17 January 2024 because of his betting ban.
The striker can return to training this weekend.
(Source: Football London) pic.twitter.com/t1S3IKvF9u
— Transfer News Live (@DeadlineDayLive) September 14, 2023
Ivan Toney has had an amazing season in the Premier League and his stats are enough to impress anyone. The Brentford striker was number 3 on the list of the Premier League’s top scorers, just below Erling Haaland and Harry Kane. With Harry Kane now out of the picture, the player will surely look for opportunities to outshine Haaland and Chelsea seems like a good place to do so. According to London World, Chelsea is making moves “behind the scenes” to sign the striker in January 2024.
When does Ivan Toney’s ban end?
Ivan Toney has been diagnosed with a gambling addiction. The player placed a total of 126 football-related bets out of which 13 were placed on his own club losing. He even confessed to lying to the officials during the investigation. The English striker has been fined £50,000 and will not return to the pitch until 17 January 2024.
The ban also prevented him from training with his teammates but the player will be allowed to do so after 17 September. In a time like this, the player needs support and his club is there by his side. “Yes, Ivan did something wrong but what I don’t get at all is how can you not let him be involved in football at all for the first four months?” said Brentford boss Thomas Frank. “What do you gain from that? If you want to rehabilitate people you give them education, you do something, and now he is left on his own,” he added.
Ivan Toney’s addition to the team can prove beneficial for Chelsea as the player is undoubtedly one of the best strikers in the Premier League. A lot can change over the course of four months so let’s see if the club will still be interested in him in January.
