Chelsea ultimately decided not to pursue a move for England international Ivan Toney because they were not convinced he would be a significant upgrade over their current striker, Nicolas Jackson. This insight comes from Matt Law, who discussed the club’s decision-making process on the London Is Blue Podcast.

It was another eventful summer at Stamford Bridge, with several new arrivals such as Jadon Sancho, Joao Felix, and Pedro Neto. Yet, despite these high-profile signings, Chelsea did not secure a top-class striker—a position the club has been looking to strengthen for the past 18 months. Expectations were high that a marquee forward would arrive, but no deal materialized.

The Blues’ primary target was Victor Osimhen from Napoli. Chelsea made multiple offers for the Nigerian international and waited until the last moment of the transfer window. However, they could not reach an agreement, and Osimhen instead moved to Galatasaray on loan. There remains a possibility that Chelsea could make another attempt in January, as the loan deal reportedly includes a break clause.

The lack of an alternative plan frustrated many Chelsea fans, especially as it became clear that Osimhen’s wage demands were beyond the club’s structure. Early summer interest in Jhon Duran also cooled, leaving the club searching for other options. Toney emerged as a late target, but the interest did not progress.

In a surprising turn, Toney received little interest from other Premier League clubs and ultimately joined Saudi Arabian side Al-Ahli on a lucrative contract worth a reported £400,000 per week, with a transfer fee around £40 million.

Many Chelsea fans were puzzled by the club’s decision not to more aggressively pursue the 28-year-old, who seemed like a good fit. Matt Law, however, clarified the reasoning behind the decision: “I don’t think Chelsea were ever sold on Toney. I don’t think they believed he was a big enough upgrade on Nicolas Jackson,” he explained.

Nicolas Jackson impressed in his debut season with 17 goals across all competitions, earning a two-year contract extension. Despite his promising start, there is still significant pressure on the 23-year-old to lead the line at such an early stage in his career. Chelsea’s decision not to sign Toney suggests they have faith in Jackson’s potential and believe he can deliver the goals they need moving forward.