Arsenal are set to sign a striker in the summer transfer window, but it now appears that Brentford star Ivan Toney is no longer a key target.
The Gunners were heavily linked with Toney in the January transfer window, but a move never materialised amid questions over his attitude and price tag, and it appears that these concerns have not gone away.
Mikel Arteta is now keen on a move for a younger forward, with the likes of Viktor Gyokeres and Benjamin Sesko linked, and Toney at 28 is no longer desired to add extra firepower to the squad.
Why Arsenal have moved away from Ivan Toney
Speaking to ShotsTV, journalist Chris Wheatley claimed that Arsenal may no longer be interested in Toney given his behaviour in some games, including against Arteta’s side, whilst his huge price tag is off-putting.
“With Ivan Toney, it doesn’t look like there’s the interest that once was, it looks like that’s faded a little bit,” he stated.
“I don’t think maybe his behaviour in certain games has impressed the Arsenal hierarchy, coupled with the fact that he’s going to cost quite a lot of money from Brentford. I don’t think that is one that’s likely to happen any time soon.”
Arsenal should steer clear of Ivan Toney
Toney would not represent good long-term value for Arsenal given his price tag and age, and he would arguably not provide an upgrade on Arteta’s current attacking options.
Kai Havertz has performed well as a centre-forward, whilst Gabriel Jesus offers a lot more outside the box in terms of linkup play.
Toney’s attitude is seriously questionable, and he may not fit in well with the young core of Arsenal’s squad, as a player who has already raised red flags with his disrespectful comments about his potential Brentford exit.
There is plenty of better value to be found, and a striker like Gyokeres would be a younger attacker in better goalscoring form who raises less concerns about his attitude.
Toney missed the majority of this season after serving a ban, and whilst he has found the back of the net four times since returning, he is not a striker who would raise the level of Arsenal’s attacking options in the same way Erling Haaland boosted Manchester City immediately.
