Arsenal handed boost in pursuit of Ivan Toney as Brentford chief admits the £100m-rated striker could leave ‘very shortly’
- Toney has been heavily linked with a move ahead of his return next month
- The striker has not played this season after his eight-month football ban
- Mikel Arteta booked again, other bosses got yellow. If you want to eradicate these evils, KEEP DOING IT, REFS! Listen to It's All Kicking Off
Arsenal have been given a boost after a Brentford director admitted Ivan Toney could leave 'very soon'.
The future of the £100million England forward has been hotly contested since the summer transfer window, despite his eight-month ban from football for breaching FA betting rules.
That ban expires next month and Brentford sporting director Lee Dykes has admitted he expects 'a lot of interest' in the 27-year-old.
I spoke to the club's media teamDykes has boosted the return of Toney, who he calls 'one of the five best strikers in the world', and warned interested clubs that they will have to 'pay a significant transfer fee'.
He said: 'I'm so excited for Ivan to come back because I see him there in training and he's a player; it's like he never left,” he says.
Arsenal have been given a boost in their pursuit of £100million-rated striker Ivan Toney
Brentford sporting director Lee Dykes admitted he could leave the club 'very soon'
'He has a real ambition and I can see in his eyes that he will be better than ever before; I truly believe that will be the case.
'Yes, there will be a lot of interest in Ivan in January. Of course it should be.
'He was the third highest goalscorer in the Premier League last season. One of them (Harry Kane) has now gone to Germany, so he's up there as one of the best strikers in the division. I think he's in the top five in the world.
'So there should be interest, and perhaps the moment will come very soon when Ivan moves to another club.
“But they will have to pay a significant transfer fee to acquire his services, because he is a talent.”
Toney's prolific form last season has also attracted the attention of other suitors, including Arsenal's London rivals Chelsea.
Mauricio Pochettino's side are in dire need of attacking power and are believed to be prioritizing recruitments in forward positions as they enter the market.
Tottenham could also be interested in the player, with former Spurs legend Teddy Sheringham urging Ange Postecoglou to consider beating their north London rivals in the transfer.
Mikel Arteta's side appear to be in pole position, although Brentford value him at £100million
But according to transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano, they may have to find alternative options as Toney focuses his ambition elsewhere.
“From what I've heard, this is another detail about Ivan Toney,” Romano shared on his Kick channel.
I hear the rumor that his preference, when it comes to a move to a top club in January or the summer, would be to go to Arsenal.
'From what I hear, Ivan Toney could be very excited about the possibility of joining Arsenal.'
The 27-year-old previously appeared to hint at a link with Arsenal when he shared an Instagram post celebrating Declan Rice's late winner against Luton, before deleting it amid a flurry of speculation.
Other clubs, including Chelsea (manager Mauricio Pochettino in the photo) are enthusiastic about Toney
Toney can return to the league on January 17 but has already featured in a number of friendlies and scored twice behind closed doors.
The Bees will be keen to hold on to their star striker after losing one of their key players to injury.
Bryan Mbeumo will be sidelined for at least 12 weeks after suffering an ankle injury in a Premier League match against Brighton, dealing a serious blow to Thomas Frank's plans for the second half of the season.
