Arsenal are on the lookout for a new striker, but they’ve crossed out one name from their list.
The Gunners did ever so well in the 2023/24 season, but they still fell two points short of eventual Premier League champions Manchester City.
Many feel a new striker will push Arsenal to the top next season, and they have been linked with quite a few names.
However, Mikel Arteta and Edu Gaspar have now decided not to sign one of their long-term targets.
Arsenal have three strikers on their wish list after Ivan Toney move is ‘ruled out’
Ivan Toney has been a target for Arsenal for a long, long time.
The Brentford striker was said to be Arteta’s number-one target in January 2024. Many expected the Gunners to make a move, but nothing materialised in the winter window.
Then, in February, reports claimed Arsenal were the favourites to sign Toney this summer, once he entered the final year of his Brentford contract.
However, the links between Arsenal and Toney have cooled down in recent weeks, and Ben Jacobs has now revealed why.
The journalist has claimed that Arsenal have ‘ruled out’ a move to sign the Brentford star, who has been lauded as a ‘world-class’ striker by his manager Thomas Frank (TNT Sports).
Victor Osimhen is also not expected to be an option, but the Gunners are considering a move to sign three other strikers instead.
Here’s what Jacobs told GiveMeSport: “Yeah, I think Arsenal are still stuck deciding on the striker front. But it’s clear that that’s the kind of profile that they’re looking for, and they feel is missing.
“And along with Benjamin Sesko, they’ve considered Evan Ferguson and Viktor Gyokeres, but they’ve ruled out Ivan Toney.
“And even though we hear reports about Arsenal moving for Victor Osimhen, the outlay is so severe that nothing is advancing at this stage on that front.”
READ MORE: Arsenal transfer rumours: Every player linked to and from the Gunners this summer
The real reason why Arsenal don’t want Toney
Toney made a lot of sense for Arsenal in the January transfer window.
The Englishman is a prolific striker with Premier League experience. He’s strong, good in the air and a real threat inside the box. Many felt those traits could’ve helped Arsenal win the title.
However, journalist Chris Wheatley shared the real reason why the Gunners don’t fancy the Brentford man anymore.
It was claimed that Arsenal have not been impressed with Toney’s behaviour. That, combined with his price tag, convinced Arteta and Edu that he was not the one.
In our opinion, Arsenal are completely right to rule out a move for Toney this summer.