Arsenal keeping tabs on Toney ahead of January, Brentford resigned to losing him
|Brentford are braced for Premier League clubs to bid for Ivan Toney in January, with Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur both monitoring his situation, according to the Times.
The Bees value the 27-year-old striker at £80 million and he is expected to leave during the winter transfer window when he would have completed his eight-month ban for breaching gambling rules.
Toney is already preparing to switch agents as he prepares to change clubs, and both Arsenal and Tottenham are expected to battle for his services.
Toney’s suspension ends on January 16 but he will be eligible to join up with manager Thomas Frank’s squad in September for training as he would have served half of his ban by then.
Arsenal could look to bolster their attack for the second half of the campaign despite having Gabriel Jesus and Eddie Nketiah available.
Leandro Trossard and Kai Havertz can also play as a number 9, but Toney brings something different to the table after ending last term with 20 Premier League goals.
Tottenham are in the market for a striker after losing Harry Kane to Bayern Munich this summer, but manager Ange Postecoglou could be forced to wait until January.
Toney recently admitted that while he grew up supporting Liverpool, he has a soft spot for Arsenal due to their style of play and the passion of their supporters, which could work in their favour should they look to firm up their interest with a move.
The Gunners recruited David Raya on a season-long loan from Brentford this month and both London clubs could soon be doing business again if manager Mikel Arteta decides to go after the one-cap England international during the next transfer window.