Chelsea and Arsenal have ‘Initiated talks’ for 20-goal striker - Belief £80m offer will be accepted

Chelsea have reportedly asked to be kept updated on the Ivan Toney situation while Arsenal might look to hold talks during their Carabao Cup game against Brentford this evening.

Toney has told close friends he is now looking for a new challenge and has held talks with manager Thomas Frank after returning to training last week. He can work with the team but won't be able to play until January when his ban is over.

LondonWorld first revealed the England striker who bagged 20 goals last season and has signed for super-agent Jonathan Barnett ahead of a potential January bidding war.

Barnett’s world-renowned agency Stellar facilitated Jack Grealish’s £100m move from Aston Villa to City in 2021 and are popular for getting complicated moves across the line.

Only Erling Haaland and Harry Kane scored more league goals than Toney last season and even though he’s been banned the league’s top clubs are looking to bolster their attack.

Toney still has around 18 months on his contract with the Bees but a deal in the region of £80million will be accepted according to a report on talkSPORT.

Chelsea have spent almost £1billion in the transfer window since the new owners took over, but there remains the need for a top striker and that has led to calls for the signing of Toney.

Arsenal have Gabriel Jesus as their main striker but will look to add competition to their attack with Toney while the 27-year-old himself would like to give his chance of making England’s Euro 2024 a boost by playing for a club that could be challenging for the title or aiming for a top-four finish.

Brentford boss Thomas Frank admitted the striker could be sold for the right price on Monday Night Football: “I think every club in the world is a selling club, except five or six clubs. We are a selling club, if the right price is there.

“If it’s the right time for the player to go, if they have developed well with us, been on the journey, and now they’re proven good enough to go to the top clubs, then I think it’s the right thing, if it’s the right price.”

Chelsea have Nicolas Jackson and Armando Broja as the main strikers with Christopher Nkunku injured.