Chelsea and Arsenal are interested in signing Brentford’s Ivan Toney but according to the Bees, these two are yet to make any sort of formal moves.
According to Brentford’s technical director Phil Giles, none of the suitors have made contact with the club regarding Ivan Toney.
“I’ve never had one phone call in three-and-a-half years about Ivan Toney, in terms of interest in buying him,” Giles told BBC Radio 5 Live(h/t Fotmob).
“My job is really easy because I get on with the day-to-day. I have a lot to do and spend less time worrying about Ivan’s situation than others. With Thomas [Frank], it’s [the case of] getting him ready, getting him fit, getting him some practice games in, and then the expectation is he’ll come back in the team.
“If my phone rings between now and then, I’ll see what’s happening. But I’m really not focused on that at all.”
Ivan Toney is set to return from suspension in January and Brentford want to make him sign a contract extension before he makes his comeback. Toney is ready to put pen on paper but he wants to add a release clause in his new deal so that it becomes easier for him to secure an exit in the future.
Brentford wish to hold onto the striker but at the same time, if a club is ready to pay up then they will allow Toney to leave – even during the January transfer window.
Arsenal have been long-time admirers of Ivan Toney while Chelsea have joined the bandwagon in the previous few months. However, both the London sides are also looking at alternatives which is probably why they haven’t gotten in touch with Brentford yet.
As per some rumours, the Bees want around £80-90 million for Ivan Toney and neither Chelsea nor Arsenal will want to pay such a steep transfer fee during the middle of the season.
Toney has time and again claimed that he wants to play for a top English side but we really don’t think the 27-year-old will be able to secure an exit in January.
Arsenal will only be able to pay for a new striker once they get rid of Gabriel Jesus so they will go after an alternative at the end of this season. Chelsea do have the financial prowess to make such a deal happen in January but the Blues will much rather spend money on someone like Victor Osimhen rather than go after Ivan Toney.
