Arsenal is reportedly preparing an offer for Ivan Toney, aiming to spark a bidding competition with Chelsea for the Brentford striker. Toney, who has not yet featured for Brentford this season, is anticipated to leave the club as he enters the final year of his contract. The speculation surrounding his future has intensified as he remains a key target for several clubs.
Brentford’s hope is that the interest from top clubs will drive up Toney’s transfer fee. While Tottenham, West Ham, and Manchester United have expressed interest in the England international, Chelsea and Arsenal appear to be leading the race to secure his services. Additionally, Toney is a notable target for Al-Ahli, a Saudi Pro League team, which has reportedly offered him a lucrative deal worth £330,000 per week. Despite this, Brentford has turned down several offers from the Saudi side.
Chelsea sees Toney as a potential alternative to their primary target, Victor Osimhen. The Nigerian striker remains Chelsea’s top choice to compete with Nicolas Jackson for a forward position. Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano revealed that Chelsea and Osimhen are currently in discussions regarding salary, with Al-Ahli also preparing a contract for him. Romano noted on X that if negotiations between Chelsea and Osimhen fail, Al-Ahli is prepared to finalize their deal with the player.
In light of this, Toney and Dominic Calvert-Lewin have emerged as contingency options for Chelsea. However, Arsenal is now preparing a surprising bid for Toney. According to Football Insider, Arsenal has been observing the situation and is now poised to make an offer, driven by their need for a new striker following Eddie Nketiah’s recent £25m transfer to Crystal Palace.
Arsenal and Chelsea’s late interest in Toney could potentially lead to a bidding war, which would benefit Brentford financially for a player who is approaching the end of his contract. The Saudi transfer window remains open until September 2, providing Al-Ahli with a few more days to complete a deal if English clubs do not finalize their negotiations.
Gary Lineker, among other pundits, has endorsed Arsenal’s pursuit of Toney, suggesting he would be a strong addition to their squad. Lineker praised Toney’s talent and versatility, emphasizing that he could offer a unique and valuable threat to Arsenal’s attack. Lineker noted that the lack of game time for Toney could indicate that his departure from Brentford is imminent.
