Arsenal and West Ham United have shown an interest in Brentford striker Ivan Toney, according to Football.London. The Championship’s leading goalscorer only joined the Bees last summer but has slotted into an exciting Brentford team seamlessly.
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 were dealt another huge blow in losing Ollie Watkins to Aston Villa. Whilst the former Exeter City man generated a healthy initial fee of £28 million, it left a glaringly obvious void in the Bees’ frontline.
Opting to use just a fraction of Watkins’ fee on a new striker, Brentford secured the signing of Peterborough United frontman Ivan Toney. There was instant pressure on Toney to deliver, with the West London side expected to once again challenge for promotion to the Premier League.
But, ten goals in his first ten games for his new club assured fans that their Premier League intentions could remain intact. He now has 25 goals to his name and sits 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 Uncertainty
It seems that the Gunners are exploring their options, with Alexandre Lacazette’s future at the club yet to be determined. The 29-year-old was close to leaving the club last season and Arsenal are expected to cash in before his contract expires in June 2022.
Whilst it would be deemed quite a 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 is not just his physicality and goalscoring touch which makes him such a valuable player at Brentford, he is also a technically gifted individual who links up play expertly.
Hammers Also Looking to Bolster Attacking Options
West Ham are enjoying their best season in top-flight football since the turn of the millennium with a Champions League place remaining a real possibility.
Despite their excellent campaign thus far, it seems that the Hammers are still in need of an out and out striker 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 departed for Ajax in January, a central striker would certainly be on David Moyes’ summer priority list.
Toney would be an option that would suit the fast-paced attacking football that West Ham have started to play in recent times. The creativity and attacking quality that the Hammer shave in Said Benrahma, Jarrod Bowen and Jesse Lingard, would benefit any striker who may arrive at West Ham in summer.
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