Chelsea are reportedly contemplating future bids for Brentford pair David Raya and Ivan Toney.
The Blues have been ranked higher than the Bees through their recent history, at one stage being four divisions ahead of their fellow West London outfit.
However, on Wednesday evening, Chelsea fell eight points adrift of Brentford in the Premier League table as the visitors prevailed by a 2-0 scoreline at Stamford Bridge.
At a time when Brentford are settled both on and off the pitch, the same cannot be said of Chelsea who will not secure European football for 2023-24 and are without a permanent head coach in place.
The latter is expected to be rectified with the appointment of Mauricio Pochettino, who has allegedly agreed to become the long-term replacement to Graham Potter.
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Nevertheless, the Argentine may not have a significant amount of control over transfers, something highlighted by how Chelsea are currently assessing the market.
According to football.london, the Chelsea hierarchy have become admirers of each of Brentford pair Raya and Toney.
Goalkeeper Raya, a Spain international, and forward Toney, a recently-capped England international, have both played instrumental roles in establishing Brentford as a top-flight club.
That has inevitably led to their futures becoming hot topic of debates, particularly that of Raya's who has just 14 months remaining on his Brentford contract.
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Unless Brentford earn a top-seven finish in the Premier League, the 27-year-old is expected to shun the chance to pen fresh terms, aware that he has widespread interest in his signature.
Although Toney has an extra year on his contract, there is an appreciation at Brentford that they may have to cash in on their star man if they receive a bid which matches their valuation and the 27-year-old expresses a desire to take on a new challenge.
From Chelsea's perspective, speculation persists regarding the long-term futures of Kepa Arrizabalaga and Edouard Mendy, with at least one of those stoppers expected to be sold in the summer.
Meanwhile, Chelsea are in the market for a new central forward with a lack of January addition in that area of the pitch ultimately proving pivotal in the club's recent fall down the top-flight standings.
Darren Plant
