Chelsea told £100m-rated striker ‘would thrive’ at Stamford Bridge

Chelsea have once again been encouraged to make a move to try and sign Ivan Toney from Brentford.

The No. 9 position has proved problematic for the club in recent years, with Romelu Lukaku failing to justify a stunning £100m move to west London and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang flopping this season.

While the club are struggling under Graham Potter, former Blues striker Tony Cascarino believes the team are ‘so close’ to clicking and says Brentford star Toney could be the ‘missing piece of the jigsaw’.

‘Chelsea are so close to getting it right under Graham Potter,’ Cascarino told The Times.

‘Their performance away to West Ham – particularly in the first 20 minutes – was much improved but they are still crying out for a striker. Ivan Toney could be the missing piece of the jigsaw.

‘With runners off him such as Mykhailo Mudryk and Joao Felix and quality deliveries into the box, the Brentford forward would thrive at Chelsea.

‘He is so strong in the air, loves to get in behind and has the confidence and swagger to succeed at a top club.

‘The problem for potential suitors is the threat of a lengthy ban after being charged with more than 200 alleged breaches of betting rules.

‘Should he be cleared or have served his punishment by the end of the season, I would expect him to command a huge transfer fee.’