Darren Bent has urged Arsenal to overlook a loan transfer for Al-Ittihad captain Karim Benzema in January or risk Chelsea hijacking their interest in Ivan Toney of Brentford.
The Gunners and Blues have emerged as potential landing spots for Benzema this month as Mikel Arteta and Mauricio Pochettino long centre-forwards. But while Bent believes the 36-year-old would be an ‘incredible’ loan addition, he would not serve as a long-term solution.
So, a move to sign Toney from Brentford should be Arsenal’s priority in the January transfer window. Bent is adamant that the 27-year-old would give Arteta a long-term solution. He is also fearful for the Gunners that not signing Toney now may leave the door open for a rival.
Arsenal are interested in Karim Benzema as an Ivan Toney alternative
The Mirror has long cited Toney as Arteta’s top striker target to offer Arsenal an out-and-out centre-forward. But Brentford are demanding £60m to sanction a transfer in January, which the Gunners cannot meet without sales. So, the north Londoners are looking at alternatives.
Benzema is now emerging as one alternative, with TEAMtalk noting that Arsenal have held discussions at Emirates Stadium about a loan transfer. The Evening Standard also adds that the Gunners and Chelsea are on alert as Benzema is open to leaving Al-Ittihad this month.
The former Real Madrid captain also believes a move to England is possible in January, just six months after moving to Saudi Arabia. But Al-Ittihad are reluctant to sanction a loan deal or his permanent transfer right now. Arsenal might also struggle to afford Benzema’s salary.
Darren Bent urges boss Mikel Arteta to prioritise Ivan Toney’s transfer
Benzema has scored 12 goals through his 20 appearances for Al-Ittihad this season and also struck 31 during his final campaign for Real Madrid. Toney, meanwhile, scored 21 times for Brentford last season and will play his first game this term on Saturday after his ban ended.
Bees boss Thomas Frank has confirmed that Toney will captain his west London side against Nottingham Forest. But Bent urges Arsenal to test Brentford’s resolve and target the transfer of Toney over Benzema’s. The Al-Ittihad captain is not who Arteta needs to sign this January.
“It depends as a club if you’re going short-term or long-term,” Bent told talkSPORT. “Would Benzema be a gamble? Not really because he’s one of the best strikers we’ve ever seen – and that’s [a] fact.
“But if you’re looking long-term, and with Arsenal’s model of signing younger players, I know Toney isn’t that young, but you could have Toney for the next four or five years. If you get Benzema until the end of the season, you’ve got the same problem again in the summer.
“And Toney might be gone by then, Chelsea might have got him. I’d probably go long-term with Toney. But whoever gets Benzema now until the end of the season, wow. He’s going to be incredible.”
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