Arsenal transfer news: Brentford offer Ivan Toney hint as Gunners player rules out return
Following two significant defeats in the Premier League, Arsenal might find solace in shifting their focus this weekend as they gear up to host Liverpool in the FA Cup.
After concluding 2023 with a defeat against Fulham, Mikel Arteta’s team is facing a challenging situation in the title race. This has led to widespread speculation that the club is looking to reinforce its squad in January.
Numerous transfer targets have been linked to the club, with Brentford striker Ivan Toney being the most prominent among them. However, no deals will be finalized before their match against Liverpool, scheduled for 4.30pm on Sunday afternoon.
For the latest transfer updates from the Emirates, Arsenalbrief Football has you covered…
Brentford decision offers transfer hint to Arsenal
Brentford seems to be resigned to the idea of losing Ivan Toney, as the club has not initiated any discussions regarding a new contract, despite interest from Arsenal.
Although the forward is set to make a comeback after serving a lengthy gambling ban, he only has 18 months remaining on his current deal in west London.
This contract is the same one Toney signed when he joined from Peterborough four years ago. While Brentford is determined to keep him this month, there are indications that they may be prepared to accept his departure.
According to The Daily Mail, there have been no talks between the two parties, leading to the inference that Brentford is anticipating a probable departure in the summer.
Arsenal is reportedly among the clubs interested in making a significant financial move for the forward.
Thomas Frank has openly admitted that Brentford is willing to part ways with their key assets if the right offer comes along. This approach was evident when David Raya was permitted to join Arsenal, initially on loan, with the expectation that the club would later sell him for a significant profit in the upcoming summer.
Frank has now been asked whether Toney will stay at Brentford this month and said: “The very short answer: yes. He is a Brentford player; he is here. Clearly we miss a few offensive players; I can’t see why we would sell him, and I would love to have him for a longer time. If I ever, ever could recommend [his sale], and it’s not for me to say yes or no — that’s Phil [Giles, director of football] or Matthew [Benham, owner] — then it needs to be for an unbelievable price. So he will stay here.”
Arsenal, potentially competing with London rivals Chelsea, will need to make a substantial financial commitment to secure the services of Ivan Toney, with reported figures reaching £100 million for the striker. Toney, who was one of the top scorers in the Premier League last season, has drawn considerable interest.
Both Arsenal and Chelsea have encountered challenges in the attacking aspect of their game. Chelsea has struggled to find a consistent goal-scorer for several years, while Arsenal, with aspirations of a title win, lacks a reliable center forward who can consistently deliver, as indicated by their statistics.
Mikel Arteta recently said when quizzed on the need for a striker: “Every manager would want a player that can score 50 goals guaranteed every season. But if you don’t have it, it means as well that they have other qualities that empower the qualities of the players next to them. That is really important as well.”
Tierney’s response over Emirates return
Kieran Tierney has explicitly stated that he will not be ending his loan tenure with Real Sociedad to return to Arsenal this month. The Scottish international, who is currently playing for the Spanish club on a temporary basis since the summer, faced challenges securing regular playing time at Emirates last season, falling behind both Oleksandr Zinchenko and Takehiro Tomiyasu in the left-back hierarchy.
In pursuit of consistent minutes and to maintain peak fitness for Scotland’s Euro 2024 aspirations, Tierney made the decision to leave North London.
Despite encountering injury issues in Spain, the former Celtic player has made a positive impression with the playing opportunities he has received.
Tierney is a part of the Real Sociedad defense that has only conceded two goals in their last five league matches, indicating a positive trend for the team. However, the situation is different for his parent club, Arsenal, as they have conceded four goals in their last two league games, dealing a blow to their title aspirations.
Recent weeks have seen Zinchenko struggle significantly at left-back, and Tomiyasu has been unavailable due to injury, subsequently joining the Japan national side for the Asia Cup. This has left Mikel Arteta’s squad noticeably thin at left-back, leading to speculation that Tierney might be recalled to provide assistance.
Tierney has since commented on the rumours, claiming: “Several people have already asked me if I was going to return to Arsenal now and the answer is no. I’m going to stay here for sure. As for staying here longer, the decision is not mine.”
Tierney’s statements suggest a strong interest in extending his stay at Sociedad beyond the current season. However, whether Arsenal will approve a permanent departure, considering their left-back challenges, is yet to be determined.
In a noteworthy development in his Arsenal tenure, the primary left-back, Zinchenko, is facing increasing scrutiny, with fans urging his removal from the starting lineup following a series of subpar performances. Despite this, the former Manchester City player has found support from Arsenal legend David Seaman.
“Kieran Tierney gives you more in defence, Oleksandr Zinchenko gives you more in attack when he drops into midfield,” the goalkeeping great told his podcast. “I know there’s been a lot of attention on him but it is about defending as a team. I hate singling players out.”
Jorrel Hato has made Arsenal feelings clear
Jorrel Hato has openly expressed his aspiration to emulate his former Ajax teammate Jurrien Timber, describing the prospect of joining Arsenal as a “dream.” The Telegraph reports that Mikel Arteta is eyeing the 17-year-old as a potential target, following his recent acquisition of Timber from Ajax.
Timber unfortunately faced a season-ending ACL injury during his Premier League debut. Hato’s previous remarks, revealed recently, are likely to further fuel Arteta’s interest in the young talent.
Speaking earlier this season, Hato talked about Timber’s move to Arsenal to ELF Voetbal, sayinh: “Unfortunately he was seriously injured in his first Premier League game for Arsenal, but he is still young and has a bright future ahead of him. In any case, the move to Arsenal was a wonderful one for him. It is also my dream to one day make such a transfer, but I realise that I still have a very long way to go.”
Arsenal transfer news: Brentford offer Ivan Toney hint as Gunners player rules out return