Arsenal could be a “spiritual home” for Brentford striker Ivan Toney, according to former Liverpool winger Steve McManaman. The Gunners are interested in signing the banned star in January who was once valued at £100million by manager Thomas Frank.
Toney hasn’t played since he was banned for eight months by the FA in May. He is back training with Brentford but cannot play for them until January 16.
But there is also a possibility he may have played his final game for the west London club. Arsenal are keen on a winter swoop for the 27-year-old, who scored 20 Premier League goals last season.
Mikel Arteta’s side are not the only team linked with Toney’s signature. Chelsea and Tottenham are also said to be tracking the player’s situation, while he has admitted he is a lifelong Liverpool fan.
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McManaman does not believe his old club need a striker like Toney and also reckons Chelsea is an unlikely destination. Therefore he claims Arsenal could be an ideal place for Toney to call home.
McManaman told Betfred: “I believe Liverpool have enough forwards at the moment and they don’t need to make it six. If Mo Salah leaves in the summer then maybe this move would make sense but once January comes, I believe that Arsenal could be a spiritual home for Ivan Toney.
“I know that Arsenal and Brentford have a really good relationship, so maybe that would be a much easier route to take for Ivan. Chelsea might be interested in him because they’re seemingly interested in everybody else but after already spending £1 billion, it doesn’t make sense for them to sign another forward in January.”
Toney’s contract at Brentford expires in the summer of 2025. But that didn’t stop Frank from slapping a £100m price tag on his head earlier this year.
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Whether that price will reduce as he hasn’t played for eight months remains to be seen. Frank said in May: “£100m-plus? I love Ivan and it’s fantastic what he has achieved here, and there is more for him to achieve here. I’m really happy he is a Brentford player.
“I know he is not 22, but look at some of the best strikers in the world: (Robert) Lewandowski, (Karim) Benzema. It’s like good wine; they just keep getting better.
“What would you pay for a striker that guarantees you 20-plus goals? And this is 20 goals for a mid-table club. What can he do in a bigger club?”
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