The Premier League clubs Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly reluctant to meet the asking price set by Brentford for striker Ivan Toney.
Toney, an England international, is currently under an eight-month ban due to a breach of the Football Association’s betting regulations.
Despite not having played competitive football since May, Toney is expected to attract offers during the upcoming winter transfer window, as his ban will expire in mid-January.
Having scored 20 goals in 33 games in the top-flight league, Toney has proven himself as a proficient goal-scorer in the Premier League.
This achievement has garnered interest from several top clubs, including Arsenal and Tottenham.
However, according to Fichajes, both North London rivals are hesitant to match Brentford’s valuation for Toney.
The Bees, determined to retain Toney’s services, have set an asking price of €70m (£61m).
Arsenal and Spurs are unwilling to meet this high valuation and prefer to negotiate a lower fee with Brentford’s manager, Thomas Frank.
It is worth noting that Toney has entered the last two years of his contract, which expires in the summer of 2025. This may factor into the clubs’ decision-making process.
Currently, Arsenal relies on Eddie Nketiah and Gabriel Jesus as their primary options for the center-forward position.
However, Jesus has been struggling with injuries. In fact, he recently suffered another setback during the Champions League match against Sevilla, causing him to miss the 5-0 victory over Sheffield United on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Nketiah scored his first Premier League hat-trick in that game.
Tottenham, on the other hand, is still in search of a replacement for Harry Kane, who moved to Bayern Munich during the summer transfer window.
Son Heung-min has performed well, scoring eight goals in 10 league games and contributing to Tottenham’s unbeaten start to the Premier League season.
Apart from Arsenal and Tottenham, Chelsea is also rumored to be interested in signing Ivan Toney. The club aims to reinforce its forward line in the January transfer window.