Brentford are demanding at least £60 million for Ivan Toney (Getty)
Arsenal are planning to submit a bid for Brentford striker Ivan Toney in the January transfer window, according to reports.
Toney is currently serving an eight-month ban after he accepted 232 breaches of the Football Association’s rules on betting and is unable to play until January 17, 2024.
The 27-year-old returned to training with Brentford last week but could conceivably end the season with a different Premier League club.
According to The Mirror, Mikel Arteta wants Arsenal’s hierarchy to add a new striker to his squad in January and Toney matches the profile of forward that the Gunners are looking for.
The report also claims that Brentford will demand a minimum of £60 million for Toney, who scored 20 goals in the Premier League last season.
Chelsea are also interested in a deal for Toney to solve their attacking issues as Mauricio Pochettino’s side have scored just five goals in six Premier League games so far this season.
Thomas Frank admits Brentford could allow Ivan Toney to leave in January (Getty)
Brentford manager Thomas Frank has already admitted that the club would be open to selling Toney ‘if the right price is there’.
‘I understand why there are a lot of rumours out there about him,’ Frank said on Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football last week.
‘For me he’s one of the best strikers, as a striker No.9, I don’t see many out there who is better in the world than him, of course you have [Harry] Kane, [Robert] Lewandowski, [Erling] Haaland and these types, but not many.
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‘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.
‘But he’s a Brentford player now, and if people want to come… in today’s market, the price for No.6 position players, we all know goalscorer or attackers are the most expensive ones. I guess that would be very expensive, unless it has changed and you pay more for a No.6 than a striker, I don’t know.’
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