Arsenal have been strongly linked with a move for Brentford striker Ivan Toney in recent days, and there has now been a further development in this saga.
Toney looks set to depart Brentford within the next two transfer windows, with his contract running down and the forward keen on joining a bigger club.
The 27-year-old is currently serving a ban for breaching gambling rules and is set to return to action in January.
In his Daily Briefing, journalist Ben Jacobs has now revealed that Toney, who has also been linked with Chelsea, is keen on staying in London, perhaps ruling him out of a move abroad or up North, and this is a strong indication that he is open to joining Arsenal.
“Toney is open to the Chelsea switch and I am told he ideally wants to stay in London,” he claimed.
“That’s also good news for Arsenal and Spurs. The Arsenal links are genuine. Toney is exactly the kind of profile Arteta craves. Even at 27 (and 28 by March next year), the Arsenal boss feels he’d be a strong fit.”
Why do Arsenal want Toney?
Arsenal’s interest in Toney is somewhat surprising given that Mikel Arteta has four central striking options available to him.
Toney was described as “amazing” by Brentford manager Thomas Frank, and scored 20 Premier League goals last season.
Toney may be seen as a reliable goalscorer, but his tally of 14 non-penalty goals last season placed him below midfielder Martin Odegaard, who scored 15.
Although he is a threat in the air, Arsenal’s acquisition of Kai Havertz in the summer was seemingly to add another option who can dominate aerially. Signing Toney to do the same may indicate a lack of faith in the German’s ability to play as a striker.
Given the potential finances needed to sign Toney, who is arguably inferior to Gabriel Jesus, Arsenal may be better off walking away from this deal, despite Toney’s apparent desire to join.
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