A round-up of the latest Arsenal news as the Gunners overtake Chelsea in a transfer race after talks with his agent and Ivan Toney shares his stance on leaving Brentford.
PIF chiefs approach Arsenal star Thomas Partey about a transfer to Saudi Arabia
The Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund (PIF) has opened talks with Thomas Partey in a bid to tempt the Arsenal midfielder into a transfer. That is according to TEAMtalk, which reports that PIF chiefs are desperate to convince the Ghanaian amid rival interest from Turkish sides.
Partey is attracting interest this summer after Arsenal opted against handing the 31-year-old a new contract. His existing terms at Emirates Stadium expire in June 2025, and the Gunners do not intend to discuss a new deal after seeing Partey endure another injury-plagued term.
Mikel Arteta only featured Partey in 14 of a possible 17 Premier League fixtures, of which he started nine. The anchor is also open to a new challenge amid interest from Galatasaray and Fenerbahce. So, PIF chiefs aim to seal personal terms with Partey before contacting Arsenal.
Read more about the PIF’s interest in Partey’s transfer from Arsenal to Saudi Arabia, here.
Arsenal and Manchester United target Ivan Toney is ‘ready’ to join a top club
Brentford striker Ivan Toney is ‘ready’ to join a top club and admits interest from Arsenal and Manchester United is ‘nice’. But the 28-year-old is currently focused on his role with England at Euro 2024. He is also prepared to go back to the Gtech Community Stadium next season.
Reports by HITC have linked Toney with a potential transfer to Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham. He is highly sought-after as Toney enters the last year of his contract at Brentford in the summer. But the Bees are asking for £60m to cash in.
No club is currently prepared to pay more than £40m for his services after Toney scored four goals in 17 Premier League games following his eight-month ban. But should Arsenal et al go ahead and pay Brentford’s asking price, Toney is convinced that he is ‘ready’ for the transfer.
“I’m a Brentford player,” Toney explained to talkSPORT. “I have a year left [on my contract]. Going into a major tournament, that is my main focus now. But after this, I’ll be going back to Brentford and I will be a Brentford player still.
“It’s nice to be linked with other clubs. But I’ve had this in the past. Nothing is done until it’s done. Like I said, I’m a Brentford player and I’m focused on doing well for Brentford for the upcoming season. That’s the main thing.
“Obviously, if it was to come, I would be ready regardless. But I’ve got to remain focused and not let other things and other noise get the best of me and just focus on what I need to do for my club.”
Read more about Toney’s stance on a transfer away from Brentford, here.
Arsenal overtake Chelsea in the race for Victor Osimhen’s transfer
Arsenal have overtaken Chelsea in the race to land the transfer of Victor Osimhen after talks with the SSC Napoli striker’s agent. That is according to Il Roma, which reports that Gunners chiefs have edged themselves ahead of the Blues and Paris Saint-Germain in the tug-of-war.
PSG and Chelsea are yet to make formal moves to sign the Nigerian, who is also the subject of interest from Saudi Arabia. Al Hilal and Al Ahli are keen to make Osimhen the latest elite arrival in the Pro League. But he is holding out for a move to the Premier League right now.
Napoli are preparing themselves for the possibility of Osimhen leaving by plotting a deal for Romelu Lukaku. Yet Osimhen is unlikely to leave the Serie A side until July as he waits to see if Arsenal or Chelsea submit an offer following the Gunners speaking directly with his agent.
Read more about Arsenal’s interest in Osimhen’s transfer from Napoli, here.