Chelsea transfer news: Ivan Toney and Victor Osimhen close on agreements with Saudi side Al Ahli
Saudi Arabian club Al Ahli have reached agreements on transfer fees for two Chelsea striker targets, Ivan Toney and Victor Osimhen.
Al Ahli has reached an agreement with Brentford to pay £40 million for Toney, according to reports from Sky in Italy. It has also been reported that they have agreed to pay £67.3 million (€80 million) for Napoli's Osimhen.
Both athletes are prepared for their medical exams, with Toney scheduled to go to London for his on Friday.
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However, the Nigerian player has not agreed to the transfer yet. Sources from Saudi Arabia suggest that Al Ahli may only sign one of the strikers. Chelsea still have their eyes on Osimhen, a player they have been interested in for a while. However, any potential move would need to fit within the club's wage limits.
The Chelsea football club was ready to sign Osimhen on a loan deal with a requirement to purchase him later on. However, Al Ahli beat Chelsea to the punch by offering the 25-year-old a contract worth approximately £33.6 million (€40 million) per year, or £646,154 per week, without taxes. This deal also allows for a release clause.
If the ex-Lille striker signs a contract, he will be heading to the club that Napoli is most interested in him joining.
The Serie A has already acquired a possible replacement for Osimhen in Romelu Lukaku, who recently signed with the league from Chelsea.
Prior to accepting the offer from Saudi Arabia, Osimhen's representative Roberto Calenda emphasized that "he has many opportunities left to explore in Europe." This comment suggested that Chelsea could still make a competitive bid.
However, the club from western London has not met Osimhen's expectations, as Chelsea is requiring him to adhere to their revised salary guidelines.
Chelsea suffered another setback in their hunt for an experienced striker to wear the No 9 jersey as Al Ahli also reached a deal to sign Toney.
The English player has fewer than twelve months remaining on his agreement with the Bees.
Toney did not play in Brentford's first two matches in the Premier League against Crystal Palace and Liverpool. He was also not included in the team for their Carabao Cup victory over Colchester United on Wednesday.
Saudi Sources Skeptical Of Al Ahli's Toney And Osimhen Deal
However, there is uncertainty surrounding the potential double agreement, as senior insiders in Saudi Arabia are skeptical about the feasibility of Al Ahli's ability to secure deals for both Osimhen and Toney.
Al Ahli only has one spot for a foreign player, unless the player is under 21. Teams in the Saudi Pro League can have a maximum of 10 foreign players in their squads of 25 players.
Sky Sports News has also been informed that Al Ahli doesn't require two more forwards and they lack the financial resources to sign both players.
In order to add both players to the team, Al Ahli must sell a foreign player to open up a spot before the SPL deadline on Monday night at midnight.
Chelsea Requires A Striker
If Chelsea don't manage to sign Osimhen and Toney, Enzo Maresca's team might look at other players before the transfer window closes at 11pm on Friday.
However, according to Sky Sports News, Chelsea is content with their current squad.
Any additional components would be included based on how well it aligns with their rigid salary framework- consisting of a reasonable base salary and substantial bonuses for performance and achievement.
Aston Villa's Jhon Duran and Everton's Dominic Calvert-Lewin are also being considered as potential strikers for the team this summer.
Jamie Carragher thinks Chelsea should sign a forward before the transfer window closes.
He mentioned to Sky Sports News that Chelsea definitely require a striker, as we have mentioned previously.
"We've observed Nicolas Jackson join the club but unfortunately it didn't go as planned. Romelu Lukaku has joined forces with (Antonio) Conte once more, this time at Napoli."
