The Brentford star and England international has long been linked with a move to Arsenal and his latest Instagram post has sparked fresh speculation surrounding the switch.
Ivan Toney has only added more fuel to the rumours that he is keen on joining Arsenal with his latest Instagram activity.
The Brentford stiker posted a photo of him scoring a goal for the Bees at the Emirates against the Gunners, which has inevitably lead to some fans suggesting it is a fresh ‘come and get me’ plea to those at the top of the Arsenal hierarchy.
Mikel Arteta’s men are believed to be very interested in the England international and the growing consensus is that the feeling is reciprocated by Toney.
The 27-year-old is currently serving an eight month ban after being found guilty of 232 breaches of the FA’s betting rules. However, that ban will be up just in time for the January transfer window and could mean a mid-season move is not out of the question.
Toney even recently changed agency and has been very open with his thoughts on one day plying his trade for one of the Premier League’s big boys. “Everyone wants to play at the top of the tree,” Toney admitted to The Diary Of A CEO podcast in August.
“The manager knows that I want to play at the highest level possible and whenever that time comes, so be it. My time at Brentford has been probably the best of my career. The next club I go to will be the right club.”
While Arsenal’s interest is well-documented, the Gunners are not the only club keeping tabs on Toney’s situation. Local rivals Tottenham are also in the running for his signature, as are Mauricio Pochettino’s Chelsea.
Brentford boss Thomas Frank has conceded that the Bees would be willing to part ways with Toney if they are faced with an offer too tempting to turn down. “I think every club in the world are a selling club except five or six clubs,” Frank said on Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football last month.
“We are a selling club, if the right price is there and I think it’s the right time for the players to go. That’s not my decision, that would be down to [director of football] Phil [Giles] or [chairman] Matthew [Benham] in the end. But I think if players have developed well with us and been on the journey, and they’ve proven good enough to go to the top clubs, then I think it’s the right thing, if we get the right price.
“I understand why there are a lot of rumours out there about him. For me, I think he’s one of the best strikers. As a No 9, I don’t see many out there in the world who are better. Of course we have [Harry] Kane, [Robert] Lewandoski, [Erling] Haaland and these types.”
Frank went on to explain how Toney is not blessed with the kind of creativity behind him as some of Europe’s other leading marksmen at the Gtech Community Stadium. However, that would of course change were he to swap the red and white of Brentford for the red and white of Arsenal.
With the likes of Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard and Gabriel Martinelli all pulling the strings behind him, it is not unrealistic to think that Toney would at some stage better last season’s return of 20 league goals.
