The genius Chelsea and Brentford summer swap deal that would completely gazump Arsenal

It’s Saturday morning, and we’re talking about swaps; where’s Noel Edmunds when you need him? Perhaps the Bearded One is on his way to Stamford Bridge - driving his second hand black cab with a mannequin in the back seat so that he can take full advantage of any bus lanes on his route, as he likes to do - to pitch a bastardised version of Deal Or No Deal to Chelsea owner Todd Boehly that involves putting footballer’s names in boxes and then opening them at random. It would certainly make for no more an illogical transfer policy than the Blues’ current system, which appears to be ‘American businessman throws a dart at a map’.

In some respects, we have reached a point at which sarcastically analysing Chelsea’s recent history of outlandish and ineffective acquisitions has stopped being fun. The longer their midtable torment endures, the sadder it becomes. And yet, with every passing transfer window, Boehly does not seem to learn his lesson, and ends up throwing exorbitant amounts of money and absurdly long contracts at players who fail to repay his faith in them.

If Chelsea are ever to break their current cycle of mediocrity, then they must start bringing in new signings who actually solve their lingering problems, who fit the system that Mauricio Pochettino is trying to implement, and who are ultimately capable of reversing their fortunes. Players like Ivan Toney, perhaps.

After a period of relentless speculation, it had seemed as if the Blues had cooled their interest in the Brentford forward somewhat, but Sky Sports Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg has weighed in to suggest evidence to the exact contrary. Writing on his personal X account earlier in the week, the renowned journalist said: ‘The 28-year-old striker could leave Brentford in summer. West Ham have inquired but it’s not hot at this stage. Been told the price tag is around £30-40 million all-in at the moment. Many clubs from the Premier League are interested. Chelsea and Arsenal are monitoring him closely for summer.’

Now, there is plenty to take from Plettenberg’s update, but not least his proposed price tag for Toney. In recent times, we have been repeatedly told that the England international could cost anywhere between £60 million and £100 million. The prospect of him being sold for just £40 million is downright silly. And yet, Chelsea could have a way of pushing that price down even further.

As we speak, Armando Broja is collecting dust somewhere in a cupboard in Craven Cottage. The Chelsea striker’s loan stint at Fulham has yielded just 52 minutes of Premier League action so far, and provided things continue on their current trajectory, the likelihood is that he will return to Stamford Bridge in the summer with his future in serious doubt.

At 22, time is very much on his side, but the impression Chelsea are giving is that the Albanian international is surplus to requirements, and that he could be sold off sooner rather than later. Why not, then, fold him into a deal for Toney?

If the Brentford talisman is to leave his current club anyways, the Bees are almost certainly going to be in the market for a replacement, and a player of Broja’s ilk feels like a good fit for both their standing in the Premier League and their usual recruitment policy. Indeed, Thomas Frank’s men have been linked with him by various speculative reports in the past.

Perhaps then, there is a version of events to pursue here that could suit everybody involved. Chelsea would get Toney by stealing a march on their rivals with the offer of a ready-made alternative, as well as saving money on his transfer fee, while Brentford would soften the blow of their star man’s exit by welcoming a young talent brimming with potential. All things considered, it feels as if it makes a lot of sense. Probably means Boehly won’t bother then.