Ivan Toney continues to be heavily linked with a big move away from Brentford despite currently serving a ban from football
Brentford striker Ivan Toney continues to be linked with a huge transfer to the likes of Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur. The England international, who is currently serving an eight-month ban from football, recently decided to change agents amid talk of a potential move away from the Gtech Community Stadium.
Last season, Toney established himself as one of the Premier League's most prolific frontmen, netting a hugely impressive 20 league goals whilst providing an additional four assists as well. So, with that being said football.london has now rounded up everything that has been reported on the 27-year-old and his future with the Bees below.
According to London World, Chelsea are leading the race to sign Ivan Toney ahead of the January transfer window. The report states that the Brentford star is Mauricio Pochettino's ideal choice, meeting three crucial criteria; English, age, and proven in the Premier League.
Former England international Jay Bothroyd has urged Arsenal to try and sign Toney as a replacement for current first-choice striker Gabriel Jesus. Speaking about the 27-year-old on Sky Sports' Saturday Social, Bothroyd said said: "[Toney's] an A for me, he scores goals, he’s prolific, he's strong, he leads the line really well.
"If you put him in one of the top teams he will score at least 20 Premier League goals per season. Great on penalties, penalties he’s unbelievable. If you took him to someone like Arsenal, I would love Arsenal to sign him now. I think he would score more goals than Jesus, than Ollie Watkins, in the Premier League."
Toney may have hinted that his future lies away from the Gtech Community Stadium by recently announcing that he has signed with Jonathan Barnett’s CAA Stellar Agency, who count Jack Grealish and Real Madrid’s Eduardo Camavinga among their clients.
The England international is now into the final two years of his contract with the Bees, with the likes of Arsenal, Chelsea and Spurs continuing to be linked with a potential transfer.
Chelsea could make a move to sign a new striker in the January transfer window with one name already emerging as the obvious candidate.
According to the Evening Standard, Ivan Toney is under consideration as a potential target for the winter window.
Brentford may have dropped a potential hint regarding Toney's future with the club after verbally agreeing a loan deal to sign Everton striker Neal Maupay with the option to buy him permanently. Writing on X – formerly known as Twitter – transfer guru Fabrizio Romano said: "EXCLUSIVE: Brentford reached verbal agreement to sign Neal Maupay on loan with buy option from Everton. #DeadlineDay Player on his way to medical tests right now."
The Bees' decision to bring in a frontman may of course just be a coincidence but some sceptical fans argued that this means the England international could now be leaving the club in January, with Maupay a potential long-term successor.
Chelsea are interested in making a move for Brentford striker Ivan Toney in January as an option to reinforce their centre-forward ranks. That's according to the Guardian, who claim that a striker isn't planned for the final days of the summer window, but January is their planned time to build in that area of the squad.
Brentford star Ivan Toney could potentially open the door to a move to Arsenal, Chelsea or Tottenham after changing agents. The striker has signed for super agent Jonathan Barnett’s CAA Stellar agency.
Brentford are prepared to receive new bids in January for striker Ivan Toney and according to the Times, they've set a new price tag in that eventuality. The England international, who is banned from action until December, is valued at £80million by the Bees if teams are looking to land him. The report also claimed that Arsenal are among the clubs interested in the 27-year-old.
Toney has now admitted that he wants to one day play for an elite club but remained coy regarding talk of a move away from the west London club. Speaking about rumours regarding a move away from the Bees, Toney told the Diary of a CEO YouTube podcast: "I don't let this all affect me.
"Obviously, it will go on in the background but my job is to keep training well when I get the chance. In the games, keep scoring and doing well but I think that everybody wants to play at the top of the tree.
"Not that Brentford aren't there, but I feel like playing for a big club, fighting for trophies, these kind of things, everybody wants to do. If the chance was to come along, I think I would be silly not to look more into it."
Toney admitted his admiration for Arsenal when asked about supporting Liverpool growing up. When speaking about being a Reds fan he told the Diary of a CEO YouTube podcast: "Yeah, I've been a Liverpool fan my whole life but from young I've liked Arsenal. I've liked watching Arsenal from how they play and kind of how passionate (their) fans are."
According to The Independent, both Chelsea and Tottenham are prepared to go head-to-head to try and sign Toney in the January transfer window as both London clubs look to bolster their attacking options. It is claimed that the Blues are still in the market for goalscorers despite bringing in Jackson earlier this summer whilst Spurs are also looking to replace Kane.
Chelsea had been linked with a move for Toney earlier this year but the Evening Standard reported back in May that his ongoing ban ended their summer pursuit of the England international. The Blues ended up recruiting Nicolas Jackson from Villarreal instead, although it remains to be seen if that means their long-term interest in Toney has now ended, or if they merely have shelved a potential move until his ban is served.
Former Arsenal and Liverpool winger Jermaine Pennant claimed back in May that Toney would be the perfect successor to Harry Kane if the England captain ended up leaving Tottenham this summer. Since then, Kane has decided to join Bayern Munich, leaving Spurs short of options in attack. Speaking about Toney's potential valuation, Pennant told talkSPORT: "£100million is fair.
"The reason being, if you look at Jack Grealish, he cost £100million from Aston Villa. Strikers are at a premium. You always pay more for strikers, then you get an English premium added onto that as well. With all those combined, then you are looking at £100million.
"If you look at the best stats for an English striker, he is just shy behind Harry Kane. He is England’s number two. He’s similar to Harry Kane himself. If Kane was to leave in the summer, then I think a perfect fit would be Ivan Toney, without a shadow of a doubt."