Ivan Toney looks likely to leave Brentford in the January transfer window (Picture: Getty)
Mauricio Pochettino has confirmed Chelsea are already working on their strategy ahead of the January transfer window amid speculation they will rival Arsenal for Brentford striker Ivan Toney.
The 27-year-old scored 20 Premier League goals for the Bees last season and narrowly missed out on being included in England’s World Cup squad.
Toney is currently serving an eight-month ban for breaching Football Association betting regulations, but is eligible to make his return in the New Year.
Brentford are widely reported to be ready to listen to offers for a player who has played a pivotal role in establishing them as a top flight force and hope to spark a bidding war that could land them as much as £80million.
Despite investing £500m on new playing talent over the summer, Chelsea appear to be short of a recognised goalscorer.
Chelsea will be without the suspended Nicolas Jackson against Fulham (Picture: Getty)
Christopher Nkunku, who joined from RB Leipzig in the summer, is currently out with a long-term knee injury, while Nicolas Jackson looks far from the finished article despite showing great promise.
‘I think the football [we are playing] is very dynamic and now we have to work on the recovery of [injured players], like Nkunku to help us have more goals and be more solid,’ said Pochettino, speaking ahead of Monday’s west London derby against Fulham.
‘But of course, we already start to work [on January].’
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With Jackson suspended, meanwhile, Pochettino must work out how to fill the void created by the absence of the Sengal international.
‘We have a few options to play with a striker or without a striker,’ added the Chelsea manager.
‘I will see how they are and how they recover from Wednesday.’
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