Chelsea are facing further frustration in their quest to sign a marquee striker for Mauricio Pochettino in January.
Although extensive plans for the winter market are continuing to take shape behind the scenes, the brutal reality of the situation is the Blues may now have to wait until the summer of 2024 to land the best long-term option for the Argentine's project.
Napoli have already spelled out under no uncertain terms that Victor Osimhen is not for sale this winter - despite his interest in a move to Stamford Bridge. Now Brentford are also prepared to follow suit with Ivan Toney - even though the England international is ready to make the next step in his impressive career after signing with world-renowned agency CAA Stellar.
Toney will be free to return to action in mid-January following his respective FA ban but with Brentford team-mates Bryan Mbeumo and Yoanne Wissa off to the Africa Cup of Nations, he has never been more important. A mid-season sale would defy all logic for Thomas Frank, whose attacking options will be significantly depleted for up to four Premier League matches.
Add to that, Chelsea's key transfer decision-makers are already believed to be torn on an approach for 27-year-old Toney and that's before even considering his whopping price-tag. Though, it must be noted that Pochettino will now have the final say on incomings.
Sources suggest Brentford now value Toney at £100m, although it's understood offers in the region of £80m would likely be considered.
Toney could, however, be available for closer to £60m next summer when he is due to enter the final 12 months of his Brentford contract. There is also a sense the centre-forward would favour a move to Arsenal, who have shelved their interest until the end of the season.
Chelsea could therefore be forced to consider alternative names such as Feyenoord's Santiago Gimenez, Bayer Leverkusen's Victor Boniface - also off to AFCON - and RB Leipzig's Benjamin Sesko, who have all built commendable reputations with their goalscoring exploits in Europe.
Brighton's Evan Ferguson is also firmly admired but the Republic of Ireland striker has just signed a new long-term deal at the Amex, his second extension of 2023. His latest lucrative deal does not contain a release clause meaning Brighton are likely to demand over £100m for his services after recently agreeing the £115m club-record sale of Moises Caicedo to Chelsea.
Inter Milan striker Lautaro Martinez represents another fine option but he is set to extend his contract in Italy. Juventus frontman Dusan Vlahovic was briefly considered by the Blues earlier this summer but Chelsea eventually snubbed the chance to sign the Serb as part of a player-plus-cash exchange involving Romelu Lukaku.
The long-awaited return of Christopher Nkunku could potentially encourage Chelsea to see it through until the end of the season, although the acquisition of another forward in January still seems highly probable.