19 September 2023 , 11:39
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The auction has effectively begun for Ivan Toney – and there will be no shortage of takers.
Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham are likely to be in the mix for a centre forward who will come with a guarantee of goals, assists and a physical presence. Brentford will demand at least £60million for a player in January who will have just 18 months left on his contract.
And unless they get the right price, then they will not sell in the next transfer window and will see it out until at least next summer, knowing that his goals will help push them up the table.
Toney, who does not turn 28 until next March, returned to training this week having served half of his eight-month ban for breaching strict FA rules on gambling. The England international will not be able to play again until January.
And clubs are already lining up moves on a player who is clearly in the mood to leave Brentford, having just switched agents to join Jonathan Barnett’s CAA Stellar Group, who have an A-List client base and have overseen deals for the likes of Jack Grealish and James Ward-Prowse.
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Manchester United would also have been interested last January but for the potential ban hanging over Toney. Now they have signed Rasmus Hojlund, their interest has waned.
Arsenal would almost certainly have made a bid last summer had Toney not been banned. Even though Toney wound up Mikel Arteta with a social media post – “Nice kick about with the boys” after Brentford beat Arsenal a couple of years ago – the big No9 has admirers at the Emirates.
Ivan Toney has four months left on his ban (Getty Images)Toney provides a physical presence that you could argue Arsenal lack and it could also open up the chance to use him as a centre forward with the option to play Gabriel Jesus from the left. Arsenal might also need a boost in their title challenge by January. It is obvious they need a more ruthless centre forward to give them more of a cutting edge.
Both Chelsea and Tottenham could do with the goals and end product of a centre forward. Toney is intelligent with his link-up play, provides goals and assists. Chelsea have been playing well but have lacked a goalscorer. Tottenham sold Harry Kane and could look for a direct replacement.
Clearly, the talk of Toney moving has only been increased after Brentford boss Thomas Frank admitted on Sky’s Monday Night Football that they might be willing to sell at the right price. Frank said: “I think every club in the world are a selling club except five or six clubs. We are a selling club, if the right price is there.
Mikel Arteta is interested in signing Ivan Toney for Arsenal (David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)HAVE YOUR SAY! Which club most needs to sign Ivan Toney in January? Comment below.
“He scored 20 goals in the Premier League last year, in, of course, a very good Brentford side but of course we are not creating as many chances as the top six or seven teams. So imagine him in a top team, he’d easily score 20, 25 goals, for me. I think he’s composed, he’s a good finisher, top mentality, so I understand why clubs are looking at him.”
Toney has been a huge part of Brentford’s success and Frank stressed that he respects him and regards him as potentially one of the best centre forwards in Europe. Brentford also deserve huge credit for the way they reacted after Toney got his ban because Frank immediately said they would stand by him, offer support and also the club would give him a new contract.
However, from the outside looking in, that does not appear to have been a two-way street. Toney appeared on the Diary of a CEO podcast and there was no apology, a total lack of humility and a refusal to take any responsibility. Toney blamed everyone else but himself.
Brentford fans forgave Toney when he said "f*** Brentford" on a video in January 2022 but now that patience might be tested because it looks pretty clear this is a player looking to move on.
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Toney has a reputation for being incredibly focused in training, he works hard at his game and also enjoys being the main man at a club like Brentford. However, if he was to go to a club like Arsenal, Chelsea or Tottenham then how would he react to being just another player in a world class squad?
That is a question for the big clubs but it is also one that is unlikely to put them off moving for a player who is set to be one of the most in-demand players in the January window.