Brentford ready to Toney on one condition, Arsenal target £65m Baryen Munich Star, Real Madrid man to join Arsenal because of Thomas Partey next week
Thomas Frank stressed Brentford’s desire to keep Ivan Toney and believes the player “wants to come back and be the best” as rival clubs are interested in him.
The striker has been absent for several months due to a ban but is closing in on a return in the new year. Even before his suspension, Toney was linked with Arsenal and Chelsea, who are both looking to strengthen their strike force.
Arsenal have risen up the ranks and there has been talk of a January transfer for Toney, especially with Mikel Arteta lacking a sharp striker. However, Frank has spoken highly of Toney’s attitude in training and insists they have not received any offers.
He said: “Toney is in the game of survival right now: ‘If we get Ivan back, it would be like signing an incredible Premier League striker who has proven himself at this level. He is training very well and we are looking forward to his return. I see the same determination and willingness to train well and be ready to play. He wants to come back and be at his best.
“I really want to keep him. I want my best players and from my point of view I don’t want to sell him. He is a fantastic and important player for us. He is a Brentford player. We haven’t had any offers, I want to keep him and he’s looking forward to coming back.”
Without Toney, who was previously tipped to be selected for England, Brentford are struggling and have won just five of their 18 league games. Bryan Mbuemo is currently their top scorer, but has only scored seven times.
The Bees are willing to part with their best players, but only for a sum that suits them. Arsenal have recently negotiated with their London counterparts and signed David Rayo last summer, who was initially on loan but is expected to make a permanent move after the end of the season.
Brentford are ready to ask the highest price for Toney, but Arsenal have a limited budget after spending around £200 million in the summer. So they looked for an alternative in the form of Bournemouth midfielder Dominic Solanke, who has had a better season this season.
Solanke is one of the Premier League’s leading scorers and, according to the Star, has already impressed Arsenal’s scouts with his all-round performances. It is known that the Cherries would ask for more than 50 million pounds to sell their striker.
Real Madrid man joins Arsenal
Arsenal are planning to bring Paulo Xavier, a highly rated Real Madrid scout, to the club. Sporting director Edu Gaspar continues to help build the club’s scouting department to support the Gunners’ strategy in the transfer market.
According to The Athletic, Xavier has left his role as Real Madrid’s Latin American scout to join Arsenal. The report adds that Xavier had been in his Madrid job since September 2017, but his new job with the Premier League team has already begun.
His new role at the Emirates Stadium will see him working alongside two other club scouts in South America. Xavier was a key member of chief scout Junior Calafat’s team in Madrid.
Athletic add in their report that Xavier is expected to announce his new role in the coming days. The former Real scout worked at the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) with Edu between 2015 and 2017.
Arsenal’s sporting director is responsible for Xavier’s appointment in north London and Xavier is expected to return to the Premier League club after having a brief spell at Manchester United before arriving in Madrid in 2017.
Arsenal have capitalized on the South American market in recent seasons, signing Gabriel Martinelli from Ituan in 2019 and Marquinhos from Sao Paulo in 2022. In recent weeks, the Gunners have been linked with Endrick, who is expected to join Madrid next summer, and Gabriel Moscardo.
Arsenal Target De Ligt
TEAMtalk reports that Arsenal have made Toney one of their top targets in the January transfer window. Meanwhile, Chelsea and Real Madrid are also tracking the 27-year-old.
Ivan Toney would rather go to Arsenal than Real Madrid
But Toney seems ready to reject Los Blancos and Mauricio Pochettino. TEAMtalk reports that the striker would prefer to join Arsenal next month.
Price may still be an issue for Mikel Arteta
Of course, that’s not the only obstacle the Gunners will have to overcome if they want to sign the Brentford striker when the window opens.
The Bees apparently want £80 million for Toney.
Even if they are willing to agree to that amount, Thomas Frank’s players will surely still demand a high sum.
And given that Arsenal have agreed a loan deal to bring in David Ray in the summer, it wouldn’t be a big surprise if Edu doesn’t have big money available in January.
Perhaps they have ensured that they will have enough money to sign the striker they want when the time is right. But it seems that the Gunners have spent a decent amount of money in recent years.
It is clear that Toney could be an outstanding signing for Arsenal. He is a ‘top class’ striker who has excelled in the Premier League.
And the good news is that he also wants to end up at the Emirates.
