Former Premier League ace Danny Murphy believes Chelsea is the ‘obvious’ destination for Ivan Toney as he has concerns about whether the Brentford ace could adapt to life at Arsenal.
There are, perhaps, a few similarities with the Jamie Vardy saga of 2016.
Vardy was hot property after firing Leicester City to the Premier League title against all-odds. But would a possession-based Arsenal side really have got the best out of a striker who did his best work when darting in behind opposition backlines?
For Danny Murphy, there are similar concerns surrounding Ivan Toney; The Mirror reporting that Arsenal are one of the candidates to sign the £60 million-rated Brentford forward in the New Year.
Arsenal like Brentford striker Ivan Toney
“I think he is a super player,” Murphy begins, speaking to talkSPORT (27 September, 11am).
But can Toney really take Arsenal to the next level? Can he transform Mikel Arteta’s side from nearly-men into champions, while scoring 25 to 30 goals in the process?
“No, not necessarily,” Murphy muses. “I wouldn’t be sure, I wouldn’t put money on it, no.
“I think he will go. There is a shortage of top strikers out there, and clubs really need strikers. He had the season of his life last season. (But) there are very few players in the world, when you’re competing with Man City, who can come into a team and make them title contenders.”
Murphy, formerly of Liverpool and Tottenham, wonders if Toney possesses the explosiveness or the adaptability to really thrive in a team who prefer to bide their time and pick their moment, rather than fire crosses into the penalty area.
Brentford, after all, are a team built to get the best out of Toney. At the Emirates, however, Toney may have to adapt to Arsenal, rather than the other way around.
Danny Murphy has his doubts over £60m deal
“I think he lacks a little bit of dynamism and explosive power,” Murphy argues. “He is really good in the air, and Brentford put a lot of crosses into the box. Arsenal like to go and play little triangles, and pull balls back into the box.
“Brentford play to his strengths. Arsenal are a footballing team. They play intricate football and pretty patterns, and Toney hasn’t been played in a team who does that.
“I think the obvious one at the moment is Chelsea.”
Toney scored 20 Premier League goals last term. That is five more than Arsenal’s two first-team centre-forwards – Gabriel Jesus and Eddie Nketiah – put together.
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