Arsenal and Chelsea in Toney U-turn as Brentford make SURPRISE shift in asking price

Robin Bairner

• Updated: 11 Apr 2024 06:56 BST
• 4 min read

Ivan Toney to Arsenal or Chelsea could be back on this summer after Brentford changed their stance over the striker’s asking price – but it has been West Ham who have made the first move for the England forward.

Toney has long been one of the most wanted players in the Premier League, despite missing the first five months of the season due to a gambling ban.

During the January transfer window, Brentford pinned an asking price of €117 million (£100m) on the 28-year-old striker in a bid to ward off transfer interest. It proved to be successful, with the likes of Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United all taking a step back, despite needing a forward.

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Indeed, it was thought that Arsenal and Chelsea, particularly, had dropped their interest in Toney due to their demands. This might have changed with a surprise shift in the Bees’ stance.

Toney transfer fee surprise

Sky Sports Deutschland reports via Florian Plettenberg that Toney may be available for a far more reasonable €35-47m (£30-40m). At such a price point, it would be logical for the Gunners and the Blues, who both still need a No.9, to keep tabs on the player.

West Ham are seeking to take advantage and have already asked after Toney, but Plettenberg affirms that a deal is “not hot at this stage”.

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Why have Brentford dropped Toney asking price?

Toney’s asking price has been cut in half to reflect the demand for him has diminished.

Viktor Gyokeres has emerged as Arsenal’s leading candidate to sign at centre-forward in the summer while Victor Osimhen is Chelsea’s. Both are likely to go and pursue these younger options, even at €100m or more.

Toney’s return to action, meanwhile, has not been all-conquering. After scoring four in his first five games, he has gone eight without a goal and was benched for last weekend’s 3-3 draw with Aston Villa.

Brentford, meanwhile, need to sell. Toney is out of contract in the summer of 2025 and the club cannot allow him to depart for nothing.

FootballTransfers algorithm gives the striker an Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) of €19.2m due to a lack of action in recent months, though his true price is likely to be around the €36.5m he was valued at last summer – exactly what Brentford are asking for him.