Ivan Toney to Arsenal transfer loophole blocked as Premier League rules stop David Raya repeat

Arsenal will be unable to sign Ivan Toney in the way many hope could usurp the financial challenges implemented by the Profit and Sustainability regulations and also the asking price of £100million that Brentford will demand when anyone comes calling. The Gunners are keen on the centre-forward football.london understands but any potential move in January looks very unlikely.

Some have suggested sorting a similar deal to what Edu Gaspar managed to complete with David Raya. The Spaniard arrived in the summer from west London on loan with an option in the deal that the club can activate to make the move permanent.

This is, however impossible to repeat for Toney at the moment. Loan rules say: «The maximum number of loans registrable in the same season is four, and, under no circumstances, shall more than one be from the same club at any one time.»

Arsenal could sign another Premier League player on loan but not from Brentford as rules state: «Premier League clubs may not register more than two players on loan at any one time.»

It is also worth pointing out that with loans being a potential way for the club to strengthen this January with Raya in on a temporary move only one more player is allowed to be signed on loan as per further restrictions in the league’s rulings.

The rules extend further and may not necessarily impact Arsenal this January but could in the future. Stating: «Premier League clubs cannot loan to another Premier League club a player they have acquired in the same transfer window.»

Therefore suggestions that players can be signed and then loaned back to their former club to help sweeten the deal would only be possible if dealing with a club outside of the Premier League – barring any restrictions of that league’s