Sir Jim Ratcliffe could serve Chelsea a further insult as Manchester United offered £50m opportunity

Manchester United continues to seek reinforcements this week.

If Manchester United persists in their pursuit of Ivan Toney, Chelsea may be underserved in the transfer window.

Leny Yoro, Matthijs de Ligt, Noussair Mazraoui, and Joshua Zirkzee have been acquired by the Red Devils this summer, thereby strengthening their squads on both sides of the pitch.

Manuel Ugarte’s imminent departure from Paris Saint-Germain has prompted the Red Devils to evaluate whether they have any late agreements available. As a result, they were able to secure the services of a seasoned striker, as they had anticipated earlier in the window.

Toney is still available, despite being excluded from Brentford’s matchday squad for their first two matches of the season. Chelsea has recently rekindled their interest in the England international after failing to secure a deal for Victor Osimhen.

The Blues are preparing to “test the resolve” of Brentford by submitting an offer that is less than their £50 million asking price for Toney, as reported by The Guardian. Nevertheless, the Bees are not naive in negotiations, despite the fact that their No. 17’s contract is set to expire next summer.

Recently, they declined an offer of £35 million from Al Ahli, a Saudi Arabian company, emphasising that they will not accept any proposals that they do not deem appropriate.

Therefore, if Chelsea intends to negotiate a lower price for Toney, they will leave the door open for an offer from another club, such as United.

The Red Devils have previously expressed interest in the former Peterborough star, and he could be considered the ideal player to serve as a role model for the likes of Rasmus Hojlund and Zirkzee. Both players are natural talents who could benefit from the guidance of an experienced player.

This week, United are expected to lose two of their attacking options. Jadon Sancho is expected to depart, and Scott McTominay, who has previously been used as a makeshift striker by Erik ten Hag, is on the brink of a transfer to Napoli.

Consequently, it is uncertain whether Sir Jim Ratcliffe determines that the acquisition of Toney for £50 million is an essential business transaction.

Chelsea’s pursuit of the England frontman being hijacked by a rival would subsequently compel the club to search the market for last-minute deals. Alternatively, it could prompt Todd Boehly to approve a substantial transfer for Osimhen, which would have a lasting influence on their business.