'Senior sources' - Chelsea and Man Utd handed huge transfer boost in £107m U-turn
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Saudi outfit Al Ahli had been linked with a staggering £107 million Deadline Day swoop.
Chelsea and Manchester United have had any late hopes of a marquee forward signing boosted with news that a double Al Ahli swoop for Brentford striker Ivan Toney and Napoli talisman Victor Osimhen may be off the cards.
In the early hours of Deadline Day, it had emerged that the Saudi Arabian club had agreed a £40 million deal with Brentford to bring Ivan Toney to the side. Meanwhile, a £67.3 million fee had been believed to be agreed with Napoli for Osimhen.
The Bees are looking to cash in on Toney as he enters the final 12 months if his contract with Thomas Frank confident that he has enough forward options at his disposal to let the player, who scored 20 top-flight goals in the 2022/23 season, leave the Gtech Community Stadium.
Earlier this year, a huge £100 million sale had been suggested for Toney but recent months had seen that asking price drop down to the £40 million agreed with Al Ahli. The Evening Standard this week reported that both Chelsea and Manchester United were still looking at bringing Toney in before Deadline Day.
The Brentford striker had been said to have the Blues as his priority but Erik ten Hag's Red Devils had opened last ditch talks this week. However, is now appears that Al Ahli are the club to have landed an agreement with Brentford, according to Sky Sports.
However, the outlet is now reporting that the Saudi club's determination to also sign Napoli man Osimehn - who himself has been linked with Chelse and Arsenal this summer - could scupper hopes of finalising a Toney deal.
Sky quotes 'senior sources in Saudi Arabia' reporting that Al Ahli would not be able to spent the £107 million on both Toney and Osimhen, with two spots not available for any foreign players. For that to happen, the club would have to push through a quickfire sale of a current international star.
News that the wealthy Saudi side must choose 'one or the other' is a boost for Chelsea and Manchester United, if they still harbour hopes of a deal for either Osimhen or Toney ahead of 11 pm tonight.