Arsenal have stepped up their efforts to sign Brentford striker Ivan Toney in the January transfer window.
The Gunners have started the 2023/24 season strongly and sent a message across the Premier League by beating Manchester City 1-0 at the Emirates Stadium just before the international break. They are second to arch-rivals Tottenham, but on the same points and that they’ve started admirably bodes well for the rest of the campaign. Thus, adding to an already strong side could see Mikel Arteta’s side become even more competitive than they are at this moment in time.
Mikel Arteta is understood to be interested in bolstering Arsenal’s attack in the winter window, and he has made Brentford’s Ivan Toney as his primary target. Arsenal have been linked with Ivan Toney in recent months. However, of late, the north Londoners have intensified their interest in the player.
Toney, 27, is currently banned due to breaching the FA’s gambling rules but is currently preparing to return in January and has been playing in behind-closed-doors matches. The suspended striker, who is also on Chelsea’s radar, has a price tag of £80 million. However, Arsenal are reportedly in a very strong position for the English striker’s signature and Arteta is going to make a huge push for him as he feels the Brentford star is the final piece in the jigsaw to win the league title.
Mikel Arteta set to push hard for Ivan Toney’s signature
Toney, in return, is a huge fan of Arteta’s side and has been watching them with great interest and enthusiasm, with the striker understood to be keen to play in this current Arsenal team. This has put Arsenal in a commanding position and a bidding war could erupt if Chelsea enter the race for his signature.
Arteta isn’t the only one in favour of signing an out-and-out number nine. People at the club also feel they could close down the gap to Man City by signing an elite centre-forward. The Spaniard has built a strong, exciting squad which can challenge for trophies, but signing a new striker who can guarantee goals will take the Gunners to a different level.
That is vindicated by the fact that Gabriel Jesus, Eddie Nketiah and Kai Havertz have all taken up the No.9 role this season but have only managed four goals between them. As a result, Arteta is desperate to have Toney in his squad and will push hard for his signature in the coming months.
Whether or not Arsenal will meet Brentford’s £80 million price tag for Toney is another question.
I am Rohan Sengupta from one of the busiest cities in India, Mumbai. A Journalism graduate with a keen interest in sports, football is something I simply cannot live without and writing, discussing and analyzing the game is what I do 24*7.
