Arsenal tipped to sign £60m striker as transfer race for in-demand international intensifies

Arsenal is reported to be the desired destination of in-demand striker Ivan Toney this summer. According to the former Newcastle manager Alan Pardew, Toney’s agent is hopeful that the 28-year-old Brentford star will be making the switch to the north London club by the end of the the ongoing summer transfer window.

Toney scored 20 goals and contributed four further assists in the 2022/23 Premier League season before serving his eight-month ban for betting offences. The Bees had originally been asking for £70m for their talisman but, with the end of the transfer window in sight and no deals yet confirmed, Thomas Frank’s have already reduced their asking price to closer to £50m as they fear losing the England international on a free transfer next summer.

While Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United have all been linked with a move for Toney, the latest speculation surrounds a move to Saudi Pro League side Al-Ahli. The striker was left out of the Bees match-day squad for their 2-1 win over Crystal Palace on Saturday as the transfer news pervaded the air and while the Times claimed the Saudi giants are leading the race after having a £35m offer rejected last week, the former Crystal Palace midfielder Pardew believes north London could come calling after all.

Speaking to TalkSport, the ex-West Ham, Southampton and Eagles head coach said: “Let me tell you. I know Toney’s agent personally and I think he would like the boy to go to Arsenal. There you go, there’s a bit of insight. I know that he thought that might be a good fit for the boy when I had a discussion.”

Pardew, however, did then go on to detail how he believes Manchester United could still be the best fit for Toney, despite their recent signing of Joshua Zirkzee, as he believes the Red Devils require a proven goalscorer with ‘experience’.

“I think of all the top clubs, the one that stands out for me in Manchester United,” Pardew noted. “I think that might be the club that have got the finance and the room to take him. They’ve got a young striker, they need someone with experience and I think that could be the place

“The thing I like about Ivan Toney is that he puts a statement on the pitch when he plays,’ Pardew continued. “Whenever I spoke to my centre-halves, that’s the sort of player they always hated playing against: physical, running down the sides, aggressive, long arms, long legs, can’t get around him, he’s up for every minute of the game, he’s always going across the front.

“I really like him and he think he’s a great signing. Where his destination is, we’ll have to wait and see.”