Brentford are set to open contract talks with Ivan Toney at the end of the season despite the 27-year-old being handed an eight-month ban from football for betting offences. football.london understand that the Blues are in the market for a new centre-forward who can rejuvenate their fortunes in the final third next term.
Toney, who sees his current deal with the Bees expire in 2025, emerged as a target for Chelsea, along with Victor Osimhen and Lautaro Martinez. The Brentford star was handed a £50,000 fine for his conduct after admitting to 232 breaches with 30 withdrawn by the FA, and will be on the sidelines until January - along with only being able to return to team training in September - if there is no appeal against the ban.
The FA are set to ask FIFA to make the Toney's ban worldwide, meaning that he won't be able to go out on loan abroad to play. A statement from the FA on Wednesday read: "His sanctions were subsequently imposed by an independent Regulatory Commission following a personal hearing.
