Arsenal can’t risk Ivan Toney asking price at Brentford

Who will Arsenal bring in this summer? It’s anyone’s guess at this stage and, moreover, nothing can be firmly pursued until the outcome of the season is determined.

Arsenal may finish the campaign with European silverware and a one-way ticket to the Champions League. They may end up in the bottom half and out of European competition entirely for 2021/21.

There is pulling power at Arsenal, of course, but there is only so much history and tradition you can wave in someone’s face if you’re not even playing in the Europa League and languishing in mid-table. Mikel Arteta is building towards a brighter future and belief in a change of fortunes isn’t without merit, yet players will want to be playing against the best and with the best now. Not in however many years.

If the second of those eventualities is to be lived, then Championship signings become both lucrative and realistic.

Arsenal would be risking too much on signing expensive Ivan Toney from Brentford in summer transfer window

The talk surrounding Ivan Toney is not only as a backup option in case other targets don’t materialise. Hitting immense numbers for Brentford in the Championship this season, his name it topping most clubs’ priority lists. Scoring the volume of goals he’s season makes him unmissable. Whether or not you’re swayed by players in the second tier or are of the viewpoint that Arsenal should aim higher, Toney is now in the conversation.

As per numerous reports, the Gunners are tracking the 24-year-old ahead of what will be an interesting summer for the striker, not even accounting for the potential promotion he’s eyeing with his current club.

Precisely how accessible his signature will be for Arsenal depends entirely on how the Bees fare this season. Fail to secure promotion and the Brentford model will open the door for a sale to the highest bidder, whereas reach the Premier League and they’re in no rush to sell.

Is he someone Arsenal should go for in the case of the former?

Arsenal Should Move for Other Strikers – Not Ivan Toney

The above is based on finance.

If Brentford don’t succeed with their targets this season then Toney will become available for a fee in the region of £30m. That’s the base number that’s been mentioned, and with a sea of bidders hovering around, there is no reason that figure can’t reach closer to £40m. It’s too much.

How much money Arsenal will have to spend this season is mostly guesswork. It will come down to what they can accrue for those they will sell.

There are umpteen players who are destined for north London departures, but with the length of contracts many have remaining as well as the lack of spending power the majority of European clubs boast following the financial implications of the coronavirus pandemic, their prices are unknown.

If the time comes where Arsenal do have £30m to spend on a centre-forward, there is such risk in signing Toney. While he’s been in electric form, has the strength and aerial ability that Arsenal would want, such expenditure on a player who has only had one season in the Championship under his belt is a move Arsenal can’t afford. Literally. There are also question marks about his suitability to a side that will regularly come up against low-blocks.

Were the figure, say, half of the one quoted then there is genuine reason to pursue. Toney is strong with his back to goal and adept at bringing others into play, yet the handsome sum it would take to lure him to north London is simply too much of a risk.