Ivan Toney makes Arsenal transfer stance clear as Gunners plot £60m January move
Brentford striker Ivan Toney is keen on a move to Arsenal when his eight-month ban for breaching the FA's betting rules is up in January.
Toney was hit with the ban back in May after being found guilty of 232 breaches, having been instrumental to Brentford's success in the Premier League. In 66 top-flight appearances for the Bees, Toney has scored 32 goals and unsurprisingly been linked with big moves elsewhere.
He recently joined super agent Jonathan Barnett's CAA Stellar agency and spoke openly about his interest in a move away from Brentford on The Diary Of A CEO podcast in August. "Everyone wants to play at the top of the tree," Toney admitted.
"The manager knows that I want to play at the highest level possible and whenever that time comes, so be it. My time at Brentford has been probably the best of my career. The next club I go to will be the right club."
Mirror Football understands that Arsenal are interested in signing Toney in January, with manager Mikel Arteta keen to bolster the Gunners' Premier League title bid. Chelsea and Tottenham are also interested in the England international, while Manchester United could also enter the race.
Chelsea complete record-breaking Enzo Fernandez transfer after deadline day rush
Brentford are set to demand around £60m for Toney and the player is said to be interested in a move to the Emirates. According to the Daily Mail, Toney is 'coveting' Arsenal, with the player's 'character and physicality' appealing to Arteta along with his prolific goalscoring record.
And Brentford boss Thomas Frank has admitted they would be willing to sell him if a club were to match their asking price. "I think every club in the world are a selling club except five or six clubs," Frank said on Sky Sports' Monday Night Football last month.
Arsenal are keen on signing Toney and the player is interested in a switch to the Emirates (Getty Images)"We are a selling club, if the right price is there and I think it's the right time for the players to go. That's not my decision, that would be down to [director of football] Phil [Giles] or [chairman] Matthew [Benham] in the end. But I think if players have developed well with us and been on the journey, and they've proven good enough to go to the top clubs, then I think it's the right thing, if we get the right price.
"I understand why there are a lot of rumours out there about him. For me, I think he's one of the best strikers. As a No 9, I don't see many out there in the world who are better. Of course we have [Harry] Kane, [Robert] Lewandoski, [Erling] Haaland and these types.
"But not many scored 20 goals in the Premier League last year, in of course a very good Brentford side, but one which is not creating as many chances as the top six or seven teams. So, imagine him in a top team. He could easily score 20, 25 goals. I think he's composed, a good finisher, a top mentality, so I understand why clubs are looking at him."
Read more similar news:
Comments:
comments powered by Disqus
