EXCLUSIVE NEWS: Coming live from Fabrizio Romano, England forward Ivan Toney is happy and has agreed to a summer move to Arsenal this month, according to sensational reports. Arsenal have taken a major step towards signing Ivan Toney with the england hitman willing to negotiate a deal that will see him move to Emirates this this transfer window. Ivan Toney says YES to Arsenal.
Ivan Toney, a target for both Arsenal and Chelsea, marked his return after an eight-month ban with a stunning hat-trick for Brentford B. The 27-year-old striker hadn’t played for the Bees since his suspension due to breaching Premier League betting rules. His absence was notable, with Brentford currently sitting 16th in the league, narrowly above the relegation zone by four points.
Despite Toney’s lack of recent game time, interest from Arsenal and Chelsea remains strong. Reports indicate Brentford may be resigned to losing their striker in the upcoming summer transfer window, but they aim to retain him for now. Toney wasted no time showcasing his prowess in a 5-1 friendly win against Southampton U23s, netting a hat-trick that highlighted his skills – a precise low-driven finish for the first goal, followed by two headers.
During the previous season, Toney stood out as one of the Premier League’s top strikers, securing 20 goals in 33 league games, trailing only behind Erling Haaland and Harry Kane in the scoring charts.
Brentford has reportedly increased Toney’s price tag amidst the interest from Arsenal and Chelsea. Initially valued at £80 million, his worth has now surged to £100 million, a figure beyond the financial reach of both London clubs without substantial sales during the January transfer window. Arsenal’s potential move for Toney hinges on their ability to offload Eddie Nketiah, with Crystal Palace expressing interest in the English forward, who has been serving as backup to Gabriel Jesus this season.
Meanwhile, Chelsea faces the challenge of balancing their financial books at Stamford Bridge. The club might need to part ways with players like Ian Maatsen, Trevoh Chalobah, and Conor Gallagher, among others, to generate the required £160 million this month. This sum is necessary to secure Toney while ensuring compliance with Financial Fair Play regulations.
Toney’s contract with Brentford has slightly over a year remaining. Since joining the west London club in 2020, he played a pivotal role in their promotion to the Premier League in 2021.
