Arsenal and West Ham United have shown interest in Brentford forward Ivan Toney, according to Football.London. The championship top scorer joined the Bees last summer, but has joined an exciting Brentford squad with no problems.
Ivan Toney emerges as Arsenal and West Ham United target
Ivan Toney is more than filling Ollie Watkins’ boots
After narrowly missing out on promotion to the Premier League last season, Brentford took another major blow by losing Ollie Watkins to Aston Villa. While the former Exeter City man generated a healthy £ 28 million starting fee, he left a glaring void in the Bees’ front row.
By choosing to use just a fraction of Watkins’ fee on a new striker, Brentford secured the signing of Peterborough United leader Ivan Toney. There was instant pressure on Toney to deliver, and the West London team was expected to challenge once again for promotion to the Premier League.
But ten goals in his first ten games for his new club assured fans that his Premier League intentions could remain intact. He now has 25 goals to his name and is six goals ahead of Blackburn Rovers’ Adam Armstrong in the race for the golden boot.
Arsenal interested in Toney as a result of Alexandre Lacazette’s uncertainty
The Gunners appear to be exploring their options, with Alexandre Lacazette’s future at the club yet to be determined. The 29-year-old came close to leaving the club last season and is expected to be paid by Arsenal before his contract expires in June 2022.
While it would be considered a huge risk for Arsenal to replace an integral part of the team with a Championship forward, Toney certainly possesses the ability to perform at the highest level. It’s not just his physique and scoring touch that makes him such a valuable player at Brentford, he’s also a technically gifted individual who expertly links the game.
The hammers also seek to reinforce the attack options
West Ham are enjoying their best season in top-flight football since the turn of the millennium, with a Champions League berth a real possibility.
Despite their excellent season thus far, it appears the Hammers still need a forward to compete with Michail Antonio for a starting spot. The 30-year-old has four goals and three assists in his last eight games for the East London club, but since Sebastien Haller left for Ajax in January, a central striker would certainly be on David’s summer priority list. Moyes.
Toney would be an option that would suit the fast-paced attacking football that West Ham has started to play in recent times. The creativity and attacking quality that the Hammers wax on Said Benrahma, Jarrod Bowen and Jesse Lingard, would benefit any striker arriving at West Ham in the summer.
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