Arsenal
Premier League • England
Arsenal urged to sign exciting Premier League ace after huge Gunners legend comparisons emerge
Former Arsenal midfielder Ray Parlour thinks Mikel Arteta should look to bring in Brentford striker Ivan Toney for the Gunners in summer 2023.
Toney has enjoyed a great 2022-23 campaign so far, registering 11 goals and three assists in 16 appearances. He captained Brentford to an impressive 2-1 victory over Manchester City in their last game before the World Cup break, bagging both of their goals too.
Toney thought he had done enough to make Gareth Southgate’s England squad for the World Cup. However, he narrowly missed out as Southgate instead went with Callum Wilson as his backup for Harry Kane.
Toney will be looking to continue where he left off when the Premier League resumes on Boxing Day, in an attempt to show Southgate why he should have been selected for Qatar.
However, Brentford could be enjoying their last season with the 26-year-old talisman in their squad. Due to his great form, he has become a target for some of the biggest clubs in England.
Toney is apparently on Graham Potter’s three-man wish list at Chelsea as he looks to revamp the Blues’ striker options.
Toney is also being looked at by Manchester United. Erik ten Hag is in need of a new striker in January due to Cristiano Ronaldo’s exit by mutual contract termination.
Arsenal are in the mix to sign Toney, too. And their need for a new forward intensified recently amid news Gabriel Jesus will be out for around three months after undergoing surgery on a knee problem.
Arsenal backed to pursue Premier League goalscorer
While Parlour doesn’t think Arsenal will be able to capture Toney this winter, he has told Arteta to go after the former Newcastle man at the end of the season.
Parlour also made an exciting comparison between Toney and Ian Wright, who netted 156 goals for Arsenal between 1991 and 1998.
“The problem you’re going to have in January is who’s available?,” Parlour asked during a recent interview with Sports Lens. “I’ve always said Ivan Toney of Brentford. I’d go and try to get him if I could.
“I don’t think you’ll get him in this window but he’s who I’d go for. He’s similar to Ian Wright the way he plays and scores his goals.
“I know Marcus Thuram at Borussia Monchengladbach could be available. His contract is up at the end of the year.”
It will be great for Toney to hear that he has been compared to a legendary striker such as Wright, should he see Parlour’s comments.
The Bees star is certainly one of the more affordable Prem strikers on the market. Brentford are reportedly willing to sell him for £40-45m, which could end up being an absolute steal.
It will be interesting to see whether Arsenal end up bidding for Toney or any other strikers. They probably need a new centre-forward to arrive in January due to Jesus’ injury.
Having said that, what will happen when Jesus returns to full fitness? Most attackers will be unhappy about dropping to the bench as soon as Jesus comes back into the starting lineup.
This is something sporting director Edu needs to work out alongside Arteta. But given their recent success in the transfer market, most Arsenal fans would back them to make the right decision.
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