Chelsea target Ivan Toney may not emulate Drogba or Costa – Joe Cole

Former Chelsea player, Joe Cole, has offered his insight on the potential Chelsea transfer target, Ivan Toney, suggesting that the striker might not reach the heights of Didier Drogba or Diego Costa if he joins Stamford Bridge.

Cole conveyed this message while addressing Chelsea’s owners regarding their recruitment strategy and the role of manager Mauricio Pochettino.

Since assuming control of the club in 2022, Todd Boehly and the ownership group have invested over £1 billion in recruiting young talents. However, the team has faced challenges on the field, with a general sentiment that experience is lacking.

Speaking on the owners’ strategy, Cole stated, “From what I understand about the owners, they want to buy youth and under-24s, 25s, and they are very rigid.”

He acknowledged the difficulty in securing top-tier players like Harry Kane or Ronaldo, emphasizing the need for smarter recruitment. Cole speculated, “You think we are not going to go for that now, we’ll maybe put a bid in for Ivan Toney because we know he is going to score goals, he may or may not become the next Didier Drogba or Diego Costa.”