'Really find out' - Arsenal sent Ivan Toney warning ahead of £85m transfer battle

Arsenal have been warned against signing Ivan Toney this summer after being told the Brentford striker would not represent an upgrade on Mikel Arteta's current attacking options.

Toney was tipped to leave the Bees during the January transfer window, withArsenal and Chelsea repeatedly linked with the forward, though the ex-Peterborough United star stayed put at his current employers.

That is unlikely to be the case this summer, however, with both Toney and Brentford boss Thomas Frank admitting the 28-year-old is expected to depart at the end of the season.

Whether or not the Gunners renew their interest in the England international remains to be seen, though ex-Arsenal defender Gael Clichy does not believe this would be the correct decision.

Explaining his stance on this subject, the Frenchman told Express Sport via Super Six: «Arsenal is a top club, and I don’t think Ivan Toney is better than what they have. He is not proven at that level of football. When you play for Brentford, if you play Chelsea and you lose or draw, people just move on to the next game. If you lose against City, it’s expected.

»Then you go and score a brace against 15th in the league and people are saying ‘Oh, maybe this guy can be a top player’. We will only really find out if he moves to a top club. Arsenal don’t need players; they score goals and create chances. I’m not sure he (Toney) is better than what they have.”

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Toney's public comments about wanting to leave Brentford have left many questioning his character, having recently remarked a move to Real Madrid would