Chelsea chief Todd Boehly 'wants to break transfer rule' and leave Tottenham helpless

Chelsea are reportedly prepared to make an exception to their rule on exclusively signing young players in the case of Ivan Toney. Tottenham are also keen on the Brentford striker but their maximum valuation looks set to leave the door open for the big-spending Blues.

A raft of signings aged 25 or younger have been recruited since Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital took control of Chelsea in 2022. But a lack of experience has proved costly on the pitch as the Londoners risk missing out on European qualification for a second consecutive season.

For all of their extortionate spending, Mauricio Pochettino's side are still lacking up top, where Nicolas Jackson has broadly failed to convince supporters in his debut campaign. According to TBR, Chelsea are looking at Toney as a potential solution.

The 28-year-old would normally fall outside Chelsea's '25 or younger' requirement, but the same report states that they would be willing to bend the rules in pursuit of bringing in goals and experience through the middle.

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Spurs are reportedly prepared to pay up to £40million for Toney, who has scored only four goals in 14 Premier League games this term since returning from a long-term suspension. But Brentford are believed to want well in excess of £50m.

Chelsea entering the race could therefore spell trouble for Tottenham as Boehly has shown no hesitation in reaching for his chequebook since landing at Stamford Bridge.

Among his big-money acquisitions are Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo, who signed for a combined £222m, and misfiring winger Mykhaylo Mudryk. The battle for Toney is set to be hotly contested this summer as his representatives scramble to find him a new club.

Arsenal and Manchester United are said to have cooled their interest in the England international. And with Tottenham setting out a modest maximum bid, Chelsea will reportedly face the stiffest competition from West Ham.

Toney piled in 20 Premier League goals last season, leaving him behind only Erling Haaland and Harry Kane in the division's scoring charts. The Brentford star's output has slowed this campaign but he remains a proven marksman in the English top flight.

Since heading out on loan to League One in 2016/17, Toney has hit double figures in every single league season. He enjoyed a prolific spell at Peterborough United before landing at Brentford, with whom he has scored 72 goals in 138 games.