£100m Arsenal target now reluctant to make January transfer move

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Arsenal target Ivan Toney is unsure if he wants to make a move in the upcoming January transfer window. 

According to The Sun, Ivan Toney is currently “torn” over the prospect of leaving Brentford this winter, with Arsenal keen to secure his services.

The striker is said to feel that he owes a debt to the Bees, who have stood by him as he continues to serve his ban for breaching gambling regulations.

Brentford are certainly keen to keep Toney. As reported by Sky Sports, they have slapped a £100 million price tag on the forward, in an attempt to ward off any potential suitors. 

However, as reported by The Mirror, Toney is the Gunners’ top transfer target for January, with Mikel Arteta keen bolster his attacking options.

Even if it weren’t for the player’s apparent reluctance to make a move, it would be a big ask for the Gunners to get a deal done for the player in January. Arsenal have a limited budget to work with, and would surely have to make significant sales in order to fund a move for Toney. 

Arsenal have also been encouraged to consider alternative targets. Club legend Sol Campbell wants to see Victor Osimhen brought to the Emirates Stadium.

Ivan Toney slipping away from Arsenal

What is clear, is that Arsenal require more firepower in the final third. Gabriel Jesus is talented, and brings plenty to the team, but is injury-prone and not prolific enough. Equally, whilst Eddie Nketiah is a good back up option and a reliably hard worker, he is not of the standard required to fire Arsenal to a Premier League title triumph. 

Toney has proven that he can find the back of the net with regularity at Premier League level. The 27-year-old netted twenty times in the English top flight last season. However, given he is yet to play this season, due to his ban, and won’t be allowed to return to action until January, Toney may find that he needs some time to get back to his best.

It seems incredibly unlikely that Arsenal will be able to seal a deal for Toney in January. Whether that means the Gunners will wait until the summer before trying to land the once-capped England man, or if they will pursue an alternative target before then, remains to be seen.

If Arsenal are not able to sign a new striker in January, though, there will be huge pressure on the likes of Jesus and Nketiah to deliver in the second half of the season.