6 clubs Ivan Toney could join as Arsenal and Chelsea chase Brentford star
Ivan Toney is the name on everyone's lips with the January transfer window in full swing.
The Brentford star is set to return to action this month after serving an FA ban for betting offences. And despite being stuck on the sidelines for the last eight months, stock in the 27-year-old striker has only risen as Premier League clubs scramble to land themselves a proven goalscorer.
England international Toney hit 20 goals in the Premier League for his club last season - one more than Mohamed Salah and behind only Erling Haaland and Harry Kane. Toney has made no secret of his desire to play at the top level and hinted in the summer he'd be open to leaving Brentford at the earliest opportunity.
Brentford boss Thomas Frank is adamant his star man will not be leaving this month unless the club receive an "unbelievable" offer. But if not in January, the Bees could find it difficult to keep hold of their talisman beyond the summer, with Toney likely to have his pick of the clubs, with six Premier League sides in the frame...
Arsenal
Position : 4th
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Goals scored this season: 37 (7th top scorers this season)
Competitions involved in: Three - FA Cup, title race, Champions League
Current central striker options: Gabriel Jesus, Eddie Nketiah
Seen as the missing link by fans frustrated at their position as the lowest scorers in the top four. Toney’s penalty box prowess would appear to be exactly what the Gunners are missing after defeats at home to West Ham and away to Fulham in their last two Premier League games.
He’d get Champions League football and the service to aid his bid to make it into Gareth Southgate ’s plans for this summer’s European Championship in Germany with England.
Ivan Toney was in prolific form for Brentford before his ban (Getty Images)Manchester United
Position: 8th
Goals scored this season: 22 (Joint-17th PL scorers this season)
Competitions involved in: Three - FA Cup, title race, Champions League
Current central striker options: Rasmus Hojlund, Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial
Crying out for goals. Here’s a stat for you: Luton with their 23, have scored more goals than United this season. Remarkable.
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History and tradition weigh heavily in the Reds favour and, let’s not kid ourselves, they count for a lot .
But would the kudos of being a Manchester United player offset the down sides - of which there are many? Rasmus Hojland struggles for service in the Premier League and has managed just one goal since his £72million summer move. Marcus Rashford is also struggling after his 30 last season and Anthony Martial’s £57million move eight years ago has been a dumpster fire for some time.
Move to Old Trafford and forget Champions League football this year and next with several top six teams far more consistent.
Would you be in the plans of the next manager, assuming the underachieving Reds continue to let Erik ten Hag down and he doesn’t see out the season?
And would your goals count for anything, given United have conceded only one League goal fewer than Everton this season? A big move in name only as things stand.
West Ham
Position: 6th
Goals scored this season: 37 (8th top scorers this season)
Competitions involved in: Three - FA Cup, top four race, Europa League
Current central striker options:Jarrod Bowen, Michail Antonio, Divin Mubama
David Moyes has made clear he is hunting firepower with the Irons unable to rely for too much longer on Michail Antonio, a converted right back and former Championship forward Jarrod Bowen alone.
The Hammers are ambitious but are they THAT ambitious? They could offer European football with the club, as winners of last season’s Europa Conference League, in the knockout stages of this season’s Europa League.
But they couldn’t match the transfer power of the big dogs or the wages on offer attention Arsenal or Chelsea.
Chelsea
Position: 10th
Goals scored this season: 34 (8th top scorers so far)
Competitions involved in: Three - FA Cup, top four race
Current central striker options: Christopher Nkunku, Armando Broja, Nicolas Jackson
So much service, so little composure in the final third for the boys in Blue who, unsurprisingly, are among the lowest scorers in the Premier League’s top ten.
Toney wouldn’t be short of service at Stamford Bridge with Raheem Sterling on the left, Cole Palmer on the right and Conor Gallagher behind him.
As things stand, however, a move there would mean a long wait for Champions League football. Chelsea are in the semi-finals of the League Cup. But he’d prefer Champions League football this season and next.
Mauricio Pochettino needs a striker to convert the many chances being created by his side. Is Toney the answer?
Thomas Frank believes Ivan Toney will be a Brentford player after the January transfer window (Getty Images) Tottenham
Position: 5th
Goals scored this season: 42 (4th top scorers this season)
Competitions involved in: Two - FA Cup, title/top four race.
Current central striker options: Son Heung Min, Richarlison, Brennan Johnson
Would Toney start ahead of Richarlison?
You’d think not with the north Londoners keen for the Brazilian to continue realising his potential in front of goal. Ange Postecoglu is also already close to a deal to bag former Chelsea forward Timo Werner from RB Leipzig. That would see Toney forced to wait on the bench for his chance.
Harry Kane might be long gone but only three clubs - Liverpool, City and Villa - have scored more goals than the 42 netted by the Spurs side left behind by the England captain.
Here’s the thing, though: Would Spurs be prepared to meet the £100million price tag slapped on Toney’s shoulders by Brentford? Unlikely when there are other areas that need strengthening, like central defence.
Aston Villa
Position: 2nd
Premier League goals scored this season: 43 (Joint-2nd top scorers so far)
Competitions involved in: Three - FA Cup, title race, Europa League
Current central striker options: Ollie Watkins, John Duran
Now seriously ambitious again and going places under Unai Emery. Are they ambitious enough to spend, potentially, as much as nine figures on a frontman?
The former Arsenal, PSG and Sevilla coach is a serial winner of the Europa League/UEFA Cup and has already turned another Brentford striker, Ollie Watkins, into a European Championship contender.
Would Toney play there? He’d be a serious contender for a first team place with his superior physicality and aerial power. But he could play in a two with Watkins when the occasion demands it.
Would he get game time? Well, with Villa in the Europa Conference League as well as the title/top four race and the FA Cup, that most certainly would be the case.
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