Ivan Toney is Arsenal’s No.1 summer transfer target (Picture: Getty)
Martin Keown has warned Arsenal over the potential pitfalls of signing Ivan Toney from Brentford in January.
The 27-year-old appears destined to leave the Bees when the transfer window reopens and once he finishes serving his eight-month ban for breaching betting regulations.
Toney has established himself as one of the Premier League’s most potent strikers in recent seasons and has been identified by Mikel Arteta as Arsenal’s No.1 target, despite a prohibitive asking price of £80million.
The Gunners have made an impressive start to the new season, collecting 20 points from eight games, capped by last weekend’s 1-0 win over title rivals Manchester City.
A lack of goals from their only recognised centre forwards, Eddie Nketiah and Gabriel Jesus, has, however, been identified as a possible cause for concern.
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And while Toney would provide a genuine goalscorig outlet, Keown fears Arsenal may not yet be ready to accommodate a player of Toney’s ilk in the same way that City were able to integrate Erling Haaland.
He told talkSPORT: ‘Once Man City secured the midfield with De Bruyne, Gundogan and Rodri they then went OK let’s bring that striker in. It’s whether or not Arsenal are ready for that.
‘When Jesus is playing striker we often see him back at left-back and all over the pitch. Maybe he has to do that because the team wasn’t strong enough defensively.
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‘It’s about where the team is but I get it. Ivan Toney is a prolific goalscorer although a lot of them would’ve been penalties.
‘Now they’re looking Brentford can they deal without him? They realise a huge offer is coming in for him and Arsenal would probably be at the top of the list.
‘But it’s about the structure of the team and whether they’re ready for that. He’s going to be an out and out striker, he won’t be popping back to be helping out in the way that Jesus does, but I think they could do with a third striker.’
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