Brentford v Arsenal Premier League Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta and Brentford manager Thomas Frank shake hands prior to kick off during the Premier League match at the Brentford Community Stadium, Brentford PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxUKxCHN Copyright: xDanielxHamburyx FIL-15772-0015
While transfer source Dean Jones told GIVEMESPORT that Arsenal ‘certainly have a level of interest’ in bringing Brentford star Ivan Toney to the Emirates Stadium in the summer, manager Mikel Arteta may have to focus elsewhere.
After winning five straight games and scoring five goals or more on three occasions, the Gunners have secured their place in the Premier League title race following their FA Cup exit at the hands of Liverpool. However, sporting director Edu is already making preparations in case they need to bring in reinforcements before the 2024–2025 season begins.
With Declan Rice becoming their club record signing after completing a £105 million transfer from West Ham United, Arsenal’s push to win the title has come despite their previous summer’s ambition, but they were unable to bolster their lineup before the winter transfer window closed on February 1.
Arsenal sent scouts to watch Toney put in a goalscoring performance in Brentford’s win over Wolverhampton Wanderers earlier this month, according to HITC, as Arteta decided to up the ante in his pursuit and continue making checks after being a long-term admirer.
According to the report, the Gunners were eager to watch the England international with one cap play after he served an eight-month suspension for breaking betting laws in the beginning of 2024. Meanwhile, rival teams Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly debating whether to negotiate when the transfer window reopens.
Since returning to the starting lineup in January, Toney has been in incredible form. He has scored four goals in his first five games of the season, and statistics show that he is more proficient than Arsenal’s first-choice striker Gabriel Jesus.
Manchester United and Tottenham are not the only Premier League rivals providing Arsenal with competition for Toney’s services as it is understood that he has also worked his way onto Chelsea’s radar as they seek alternative options to Napoli marksman Victor Osimhen.
But, in a major boost for Arteta, transfer expert Fabrizio Romano recently told GIVEMESPORT that the frontman would be keen to complete a move to the Emirates Stadium if he brings the curtain down on his Brentford career in the coming months.
Arsenal have been given further hope of being able to negotiate a deal ahead of the 2024/25 campaign as Brentford chief Thomas Frank has conceded that a summer move is likely to be on the cards due to Toney being set to enter the final 12 months of his contract at the Gtech Community Stadium.
Dean Jones – Brentford valuation could complicate matters for Arteta
Although Arsenal insider Teamnewsandtix has revealed that he is less confident that Toney will be heading to north London at the end of the season, Jones understands that the Gunners remain interested in reaching an agreement with Brentford despite making no inroads at this stage.
But the respected journalist feels that the former Newcastle United’s price tag, which stood at £100million during the winter window, could prove to be a sticking point for Arteta if the Bees refuse to lower their demands when the transfer window reopens for business.
Jones told GIVEMESPORT:
“From my point of view, I don’t think Arsenal are less serious about Toney now than at any point before. That’s the reading that I’ve got of the situation, from speaking to people.
“I don’t think it’s necessarily progressed, but Arsenal definitely have a level of interest in Ivan Toney. What it’s going to come down to, at the end of the day, will be the valuation of the player and whether the deal is doable. That’s the point at which they might become less serious.
“If Toney was to be valued at close to £100million, I’m not sure that Arsenal would be willing to go there.”
Arsenal contemplating whether to lodge Watkins bid
Toney is not the only striker on Arsenal’s radar ahead of the summer as, according to Spanish sources, the Gunners are considering whether to make a move for Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins after Arteta has set his sights on making his side even more of a threat in the final third of the pitch.
The report suggests that the 28-year-old has caught the north Londoners’ attention with his prolific performances this season, having found the back of the net 18 times and provided his teammates with a further 12 assists in 35 outings, but the Villans could demand up to £86million as they aim to keep him in the Midlands.
Villa are in a strong negotiating position as Watkins committed his long-term future to the club in October, when he penned a £130,000-per-week contract which is not due to expire until the summer of 2028, which will complicate matters for Arsenal in their attempts to reach an agreement.
Sunday People chief sports writer Neil Moxley previously told GIVEMESPORT that the England international is worth more than £75million and his current employers would struggle to bring in a direct replacement, meaning ex-Gunners chief Unai Emery will be desperate to retain his services.
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