Ivan Toney’s Arsenal future ‘SHIRT NUMBER’ revealed as agent and Brentford manager gives greenlight for January transfer
Arsenal are among the clubs reportedly looking to sign Brentford’s Ivan Toney in the January transfer window.
The Gunners reportedly want to bring an extra force to the Emirates Stadium in the new year to help them maintain the momentum that Mikel Arteta’s team generated in the early months of the season.
Toney is currently serving an eight-month football ban imposed by the English Football Association for breaching the rules of the game. The 27-year-old has been able to train with his Brentford teammates this month and is preparing for his return to action on January 16.
Whether he will still be playing for Brentford by then is not yet known, as Arsenal and Chelsea are thought to be seriously considering the possibility of trying to sign Toney next month.
Thomas Frank, Toney’s manager at Brentford, does not expect to sell his striker and told the Standard last month: “I don’t want to lose him. I hope and believe he will be playing for Brentford on February 1.
“Everyone saw what he did last year. It’s not like he broke his leg or hurt his hip, so he’s healthy and probably even more ambitious to make it a success. I’m sure he will be fully up to speed.”
Should Arsenal indeed manage to complete a deal that sees Toney move to North London, fans will be wondering what squad numbers are available for the striker to take over at the Emirates Stadium.
Toney wears number 17 at Brentford, a number he also wore for two seasons at his former club Peterborough United. That number is currently worn by Arsenal, but it is held by Cedric Soares, whose contract expires next summer and who is expected to leave the club then or in January.
If he doesn’t get number 17, Toney can take over number 21, which he briefly wore at Barnsley at the start of his career. There is also number 27, which was Toney’s first team number when he made his debut for Northampton Town in 2012.
With all this in mind, here is a short list of some of the numbers available to him (1-40): 3, 13, 16, 21, 23, 26, 27, 28, 30, 32, 33, 34, 36-40.
