Arsenal sporting director Edu reportedly faces minimal threat from Tottenham in the race for Ivan Toney. But a demand from the Brentford striker’s camp could leave a bitter taste in the Gunners’ mouths, with a chunky signing-on fee set to bump up the final bill if they pounce in January.
Toney last played competitively back in May, before he was hit with an eight-month ban for breaching the FA’s betting rules. The 27-year-old is scheduled to make his comeback shortly after the New Year.
A lack of first-team action hasn’t stemmed the flow of transfer rumours, with the likes of Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham all rumoured to be eyeing up the striker after his superb 20-goal Premier League haul last campaign.
It may soon turn into a two-horse race, however, as The Athletic claim that Spurs are ‘unlikely’ to win the battle, despite the club enjoying an exciting few months under new manager Ange Postecoglou.
The news isn’t all positive from an Arsenal perspective, though, as a hefty signing-on bonus is believed to be raising eyebrows behind the scenes. Journalist Simon Phillips claims that the demands from Toney’s entourage have not gone down well at Stamford Bridge.
If Edu is keen to capitalise and swoop for Toney uncontested, the Gunners will have to pay through the nose. Even without the extra add-ons, the former Newcastle United star is expected to cost in the region of £80million.
The Gunners are top of the table after 17 matches, but Toney would face competition from Gabriel Jesus and Eddie Nketiah to nail down the solitary striker spot under Mikel Arteta.
His route into the Chelsea first team would be comparatively simple, but Mauricio Pochettino’s side are floundering in 10th place, with no form of European football to make them more enticing than rival suitors.
