Brentford striker Ivan Toney ‘will end up at Arsenal’ despite interest from Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea and Manchester United.
At least, that is the view of Alan Pardew. The former Newcastle boss speaking to talkSPORT (12 November, 6pm) as speculation continues to swirl around the England international.
If Brentford thought that slapping a £100 million price-tag on Ivan Toney’s head would be enough to keep his suitors at arms’ length, per Sky Sports, they may be mistaken.
According to The Mirror, Mikel Arteta has made Toney his number one target in the New Year. A man who scored 20 goals in the Premier League last season potentially the difference between a first title in two decades or another near miss. Toney arriving at the Emirates could, perhaps, dictate if Arteta is shopping for a wedding dress in May or a bridesmaids one.
Arsenal keen on Ivan Toney
“Toney is for me the signing (the big clubs should try to make) in January. He is the one. Whoever gets him, I think, will be really fortunate,” Pardew says.
“I think he will end up at Arsenal, actually.”
Whether Pardew’s premonition proves to be correct may depend on how much Arsenal are willing to spend on a 27-year-old who may still be yet to hit his prime. Tottenham, Manchester United and Chelsea could also benefit from a proven, established Premier League number nine too, with Toney ticking about every box imaginable.
“Arsenal, instead of Kai Havertz, should have bought him in August,” Darragh MacAnthony, Toney’s chairman at Peterborough United, tells talkSPORT (3 November, 10am).
“Ivan Toney guarantees them the title. If Arsenal are top of the league in January, and they sign Ivan Toney, its guaranteed they win the title. Technically, he is unbelievable.
“How much is he worth? I think the type of striker he is, anywhere from £70 to 85 million. He has got his best years ahead of him and he’s a game-changer.
“Brentford will probably try and sign a new contract with a release clause. Whether they sell now or in the summer, it won’t affect his value. Harry Kane is 30 and he went for 100 million (euros to Bayern Munich)!”
‘Guarantees Arsenal the title’
Eddie Nketiah is currently Arsenal’s top Premier League goalscorer this term, but three of his five goals came against a hapless Sheffield United.
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