Arsenal are looking to build upon their impressive campaign by strengthening in the transfer market, and several strikers have already been linked.
Newcastle attacker Alexander Isak and Sporting Club De Portugal striker Viktor Gyokeres are among the names recently linked, and this follows a January window in which Brentford’s Ivan Toney was reportedly a top target.
Interest in Toney appears to have somewhat cooled, although it was recently reported that his price tag could be as low as £40m this summer, raising the question over whether he would be a good value signing.
However, former Premier League striker Michael Owen has now encouraged Mikel Arteta to avoid a deal for the Brentford star, who is set to be included in the provisional England squad for the European Championships this summer.
Michael Owen urges Arsenal to avoid Ivan Toney deal
Speaking to Premier League Productions (20/05/24, 14:30) Owen claimed that Arteta must not waste the opportunity to sign a striker on a player like Toney.
“Someone like Toney at Brentford, he is available. Do you get somebody like that when there are question marks? Is he going to be able to up his game? Has he got the class to come off and do all the things?” He questioned.
“You need the personality. All of those things. There will be players out there that are very good, that people will say ‘just go and get him, Mikel’. He might be the answer, don’t get me wrong. All I will be saying is that there will be players desperate to walk to Arsenal now and will become available. But I would bide my time and wait for the right person.
“If he’s not available now, but next year, then fine. But don’t waste your bullets.”
Arsenal should avoid Ivan Toney deal
The strong form of Kai Havertz as a striker has meant that there is less urgency to bring in an attacker who would need to make an immediate impact.
This gives Arteta some freedom to sign a top prospect such as Joshua Zirkzee or Benjamin Sesko, who can be eased in rather than relied upon as a starter.
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Toney has been poor since returning from his lengthy ban from football, failing to score in his last 12 Premier League appearances, and at 28, he is not someone who could form part of the squad for years to come, and Arsenal should certainly look elsewhere.