Chelsea want a tall, powerful target man striker this summer, and there seem to be two front runners. Victor Osimhen and Ivan Toney.
But on ESPN, Craig Burley has cast doubt on the equating of the two:
“If I was Chelsea I’d have to ask myself a question. If I want to be back amongst the big boys. Is Ivan Toney going to be the answer? Really, is he at that level? I don’t think so.”
He compared him unfavourably to reliable Champions League gunman Osimhen, who has had some brilliant years terrorising Serie A defences and now looks like he wants a big move.
Osimhen certainly has the reputation, and a more exotic sound to him given he’s coming from Nigeria and Napoli rather than the lower leagues of English football. But is there a real gulf in ability? Has Toney’s reputation been inflated by so long out?
There will be some very big and very expensive decisions for Chelsea to make in the summer, that’s for sure. Someone is going to take the risk on Toney – we just don’t know if it will be Chelsea.