Brentford make Toney stance clear to Arsenal with boss ‘losing sleep’ over star
Arsenal are preparing themselves for the January transfer window when sporting director Edu and his team will try to strengthen Mikel Arteta ’s hand.
Arteta has his side top of the Premier League table heading into the busy festive period. The Gunners are one point above Liverpool and five clear of defending champions Manchester City ahead of their showdown with Jurgen Klopp ’s side on Saturday.
But Arsenal’s experiences from last season, when they fell away in the New Year, means they know strength and depth is key. That is why they are seriously considering transfers once the mid-season window opens in 10 days. Here is the latest transfer news concerning Arsenal.
Brentford stance on Toney
Mirror Football revealed back in September that Ivan Toney is Arsenal's top target for the January transfer window – and things are stepping up now. Arteta is keen to sign a new centre-forward who is capable of providing back-up to Gabriel Jesus and Eddie Nketiah and Toney fits the brief.
Arsenal are not the only club interested, with Chelsea and Tottenham both also keeping across things. Toney wants to leave Brentford once he has served his FA ban for breaching betting rules and his club are braced for bids.
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"He is in the top five in the world, in my opinion,” Brentford technical director Lee Dykes said. “So there should be interest, and maybe the time comes very shortly that Ivan moves on to another club. But they will have to pay a decent transfer fee to acquire his services because he is some talent.” Arsenal want Toney, but are clear that they won’t overpay, with Brentford understood to value him at £60million.
Ivan Toney is keen to leave Brentford in January (Paul Dennis/TGS Photo/REX/Shutterstock)HAVE YOUR SAY! Is Ivan Toney the right player for Arsenal in January? Comment below.
Arteta’s four-point plan
Toney is the biggest target for January – but he’s not the only one. Arsenal know that signing a top class centre-forward will cost, so might end up looking at other positions. The Independent reports that Arteta also wants another midfielder and two full-backs to complete his squad.
Thomas Partey’s injury problems have left Arsenal a little short in the middle of the park. Memories of Partey and William Saliba’s absences at a key period last season are fresh in the mind and don’t want to be repeated.
The Gunners are likely to need to have to sell before they can buy, with an understanding that two of those four signings will probably have to wait until the summer. Financial Fair Play rules mean Arsenal can’t be reckless.
Sporting worried about Gyokeres
Viktor Gyokeres has been in exceptional form for Sporting Lisbon (PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA/AFP via Getty Images)Viktor Gyokeres swapped Coventry for Sporting Lisbon in the summer for around £20m and is already being linked with a move back to England. That is down to his outstanding form in Portugal, where he has 17 goals and eight assists in his first 20 matches for Sporting.
Gyokeres has a €100million (£86m) release clause in his contract, but even still manager Ruben Amorim is ‘losing his sleep’ due to Arsenal and Chelsea’s interest, according to Correio da Manha. He is reportedly worried that the Swedish striker could be lured back to England. O Jogo says Arsenal may wait until the summer to move for Gyokeres because they don’t think Sporting will budge in January.
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