Arsenal have been told they must sign Ivan Toney this month to keep their Premier League title dreams alive. The 27-year-old striker has been heavily linked with an exit from Brentford for a while now despite receiving an eight-month ban in the summer for breaching Football Association betting rules.
Although he hasn't played a single minute in the Premier League since May, Toney remains one of the most coveted frontmen in Europe. The England international will be eligible to make his full return to action on January 20 when the Bees host Nottingham Forest in the Premier League.
By then, there will be just under two weeks or so left of the January transfer window. If Toney, who has just 18 months remaining on his contract at the Gtech Community Stadium, is not offloaded this month then Brentford could be under pressure to concede a cut-price offer.
In the meantime, Thomas Frank's side have reportedly given the striker an eye-watering £100million price tag – and Arsenal have been told to cough up if they want to reinvigorate their title hopes. The Gunners currently sit fourth in the Premier League, five points adrift of leaders Liverpool.
«I believe that to Arsenal he’s worth £100 million,» said Michail Antonio on the Footballer’s Football Podcast. «If he was at Arsenal when they played us [West Ham], I believe they probably would’ve won that game.
»[Chelsea] need a bagsman but I don’t think they are in dire need like Arsenal. To Chelsea, it would probably be more £80million. Because Ivan Toney is a baller. He is quality.
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