Brentford technical director Lee Dykes has sent Arsenal an honest admission over the future of the Bees’ star striker Ivan Toney ahead of the January 2024 transfer market.
The 27-year-old is on the verge of returning from his FA-imposed eight-month suspension to playing football. Toney can resume his career on January 17 but he may do so for Arsenal rather than Brentford as Mikel Arteta is now dreaming about securing the forward’s transfer.
Toney was amongst the most prolific strikers throughout the Premier League last season. He flashed home 20 goals over 33 appearances as the Bees ended the term in ninth place. Only Erling Haaland (36 in 35) and Harry Kane (30 in 38) would outscore the Northampton native.
Mikel Arteta and Ivan Toney want to agree his transfer to Arsenal
What Toney showed with Brentford last season has convinced Arteta that his transfer would be perfect for Arsenal. The Mirror reports that the Spaniard has marked the 6ft frontman as his top striker target for January. Toney also wants to make a transfer to Arsenal next month.
Brentford will only sell Toney for the right price and have slapped a £60m asking price on the one-cap England international. The Bees believe they can stifle his desire to leave the Gtech Community Stadium in January and demand their full valuation as his contract runs to 2025.
Brentford chief Lee Dykes issues an honest admission about Ivan Toney
Toney earned his England debut in March with the form he showed for Brentford last season that tempts Arteta to target his transfer to Arsenal. The Gunners coach thinks he would be a valuable option at Emirates Stadium as the physical forward can offer an out-and-out striker.
Brentford chief Dykes has now warned any club like Arsenal who may be interested in a deal that Toney’s transfer will cost a ‘decent’ fee, though. But the Bees director also admits that a move may soon be on the cards as clubs will try to sign one of the best strikers in the world.
Dykes told the Brentford website: “I am so excited for Ivan to come back because I see him out there in training and he is some player. It looks like he’s never been away. There’s a real ambition from him and I can see in his eyes that he’s going to be better than he’s ever been.
“Yes, there will be lots of interest in Ivan in January. Naturally, there should be. He was the third-highest Premier League goalscorer last season. One of them [being Kane] has gone to Germany, now. So, he’s up there as one of the best strikers in the division.
“He is in the top five in the world, in my opinion. So, there should be interest and maybe the time comes very shortly that Ivan moves on to another club. But they will have to pay a decent transfer fee to acquire his services because he is some talent.”
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