Brentford face Toney problem as new Arsenal and Chelsea transfer stance emerges

09 March 2024 , 20:30

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Ivan Toney has just over one year left to run on his Brentford contract (Image: Visionhaus/Getty Images)

Brentford will have to slash their asking price for Ivan Toney if they wish to entice the likes of Arsenal and Chelsea to the negotiating table this summer.

Mikel Arteta's side had been showing strong interest in the England international ahead of the winter transfer window but the Gunners were later hamstrung by financial restrictions due to Premier League PSR rules.

Since then, Toney has returned to action with the Bees following his eight-month betting ban but the landscape has drastically changed as potential alternative striker targets such as Viktor Gyokeres and Benjamin Sesko have impressed club scouts.

Thomas Frank, who recently conceded that Toney is poised to leave the club this summer, previously claimed Brentford valued their talisman at £100million, however, he is due to enter the final 12 months of his current deal in west London this July.

Meanwhile, Chelsea's hierarchy are thought to be split on the 27-year-old as they would prefer to sign a younger centre-forward with higher potential. The Blues must also be cautious of PSR rules after recording a £90m loss in their 2022/23 financial records that were published earlier this week.

Chelsea will do everything they can to ensure they remain compliant, even if that means missing out on top striker target Victor Osimhen. But when it comes to Toney, sources suggest Brentford will now have to soften their stance over a fee to get top clubs talking with £60m deemed a more realistic transfer valuation.

Toney favours a move to Arsenal but the Gunners intend to carry out due diligence on a number of targets with Osimhen and Joshua Zirkzee also expected to form part of their thinking, amongst others.

Brentford will have to lower their transfer price for Ivan Toney to get top clubs talking (Sean Ryan/IPS/REX/Shutterstock)

Arteta indicated on Thursday during his press conference at London Colney that the Gunners will still be pursuing a marquee No.9 despite Kai Havertz's recent purple patch operating as a false-nine.

The Spaniard said: “The plans that we have for the summer are very clear. They were done almost at the start of the season understanding what we can have, the contract situations with some players, and how we can improve certain areas of the team. This situation doesn’t change that."

Tottenham could also be dark horses in the race for Toney's signature as there is every chance Ange Postecoglou's side will look to add extra firepower to their squad ahead of the 2024/25 season.

Brentford will take comfort in the fact they have already landed a suitable replacement for Toney in the form of Club Brugge striker Igor Thiago, who joins for a club-record £30m fee this summer.

Ryan Taylor