Chelsea set to consider 22-year-old as alternative to Ivan Toney
Chelsea could be forced to sign another striker in January instead of Brentford’s Ivan Toney.
That is according to a report from the Daily Mirror.
It claims that despite Ivan Toney being interested in a move to Chelsea, Brentford are prepared to keep hold of him until next summer.
As a result, the same outlet has suggested that Bayer Leverkusen’s Victor Boniface could become an option for the Blues.
Boniface has been in good form for Xabi Alonso’s side this season, scoring seven goals and providing five assists in 12 Bundesliga appearances.
Chelsea would be silly to sign Victor Boniface
While things may be going well for Boniface right now, this is the kind of signing that would leave you asking, Chelsea, when will you learn?
The Nigerian is 22, just like Nicolas Jackson and Armando Broja. Is another young striker who has not proved that he can score 20 goals in a single Premier League season really what Mauricio Pochettino needs at this moment in time? Absolutely not.
Let us not forget the signings of Timo Werner and Kai Havertz, two imports from the Bundesliga, did not exactly spell goals for Chelsea.
What they need is a proven No.9 like Toney, who is also attracting interest from one of their Premier League rivals.
Because of that and Brentford seemingly being reluctant to sell the 27-year-old in January, a winter deal is not going to be easy. If that is the case, Chelsea may be better off waiting until the summer than signing Boniface.
With how things are going, by the time January arrives, Pochettino’s men will be well out of the race for Champions League qualification. Such a scenario would mean that the Blues do not have to panic buy to improve their frontline, with their Premier League campaign likely to be over.
Of course, Europa League football could become their next aim, but should the club really panic buy for a secondary objective? Probably not.