Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has made Brentford striker Ivan Toney his top target for the January transfer window, according to reports.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Toney is set to return to football next month once he serves his eight-month ban for breaching the Football Association’s rules on betting.
Arsenal, meanwhile, are open to bolstering Arteta’s squad in the January transfer window, although Financial Fair Play regulations could heavily restrict their activity.
According to The Independent, Arteta wants Arsenal’s hierarchy to prioritise a move for a new striker in January in order to improve his side’s chances of winning their first Premier League title since 2004.
The report claims that Brentford would want at least £80 million for Toney, while Arteta has also considered signing a new central midfielder alongside two new full-backs.
When asked about Arsenal’s interest in Toney, Brentford manager Thomas Frank said on Friday: ‘I don’t know about that. You’ll have to ask Arsenal.
‘As far as I know Ivan is a Brentford player. No bids. I want to keep him and he’s looking forward to playing for us.
‘To get Ivan back will be like signing an unbelievably good striker, who is proven in the Premier League.
‘Of course we are looking forward to that. Ivan is training very well, on and off the pitch, and looking forward to finally contributing to the team.
‘I see at least the same determination and willpower to want to train well and be ready to play – maybe a tiny bit more in terms of wanting to come back and be at his best. It’s good, only positive.
‘Am I desperate to keep him? Desperate is a big word. I’d really, really like to keep him. I’m a head coach. I’d love to have my best players with me all the time.
‘So from my perspective, I don’t want to sell him. That’s me, because he is fantastic. Last year three players scored more than 20 goals in the Premier League and he was one of them.
‘So obviously he is an important player for us and we are just enjoying him every day and looking forward to when we can use him.’
For more stories like this, check our sport page.
Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on
Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
