Arsenal suffer Toney setback after Arteta hatches £50m transfer backup plan

28 December 2023 , 19:04

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Arsenal suffer Toney setback after Arteta hatches £50m transfer backup plan

Arsenal could fail in their bid to sign Brentford striker Ivan Toney in January as a result of the Bees' recent poor form.

Toney, 27, is currently serving an eight-month ban after breaching betting rules but will finally be available for selection once again next month. He is expected to attract transfer offers, though, after plundering 20 goals in 33 matches during the 2022/23 Premier League campaign.

Mirror Football revealed back in September that Arsenal had earmarked Toney as their primary transfer target ahead of the winter window with Mikel Arteta keen to bolster his forward line. However, Brentford are reluctant to lose their talisman after sliding down the Premier League table in recent weeks.

A new report from The Sun has claimed that Bees boss Thomas Frank is 'desperate' for Toney to stay in west London amid Brentford's poor form, with the Londoners now just four points above the relegation zone after losing six of their last seven league matches.

Toney has 18 months left to run on his current contract but it's understood that Brentford are under no pressure to sell their star striker - and that means Arsenal could be left frustrated in their pursuit of the former Newcastle and Peterborough man.

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With Arteta keen on signing an out-and-out No.9 to boost Arsenal's title hopes in January, the Spaniard has also identified other potential targets.

Join the debate! Who would you like to see Arsenal sign in January? Let us know here.

Arsenal could fail in their bid to sign Ivan Toney in January as a result of Brentford's recent poor form (Getty Images)

It emerged last week that Bournemouth forward Dominic Solanke is one of the alternative forwards Arsenal are currently tracking. The former Chelsea and Liverpool star has been in inspired form in recent weeks for the Cherries, who have won six of their last seven matches after finding their feet under new head coach Andoni Iraola.

Solanke has hit 12 goals in just 18 top-flight appearances this term and has already impressed Arsenal scouts with his all-round performances, per The Star.

The same report claims that Bournemouth would demand a sum in excess of £50million to do business for Solanke, who moved to the south coast for £19m back in January 2019.

Arsenal could head into the January transfer window at the Premier League summit with a win over West Ham on Thursday night. The Gunners then travel to Fulham for a London derby on New Years Eve.

Dan Marsh