Arsenal & Chelsea prepared to offer players in deal for Ivan Toney

Arsenal and Chelsea are continuing to weigh up respective moves for Brentford striker Ivan Toney in the January transfer window, with both sides open to offering players to the Bees in part-exchange, sources have confirmed to 90min.

Toney finished as the third-highest scorer in the Premier League last season having found the net 20 times, ranking behind only Harry Kane (30) and Golden Boot winner Erling Haaland (36).

However, Toney has been unable to play since mid-May after the FA imposed an eight-month ban for breaches of betting regulations. He will be able to partake in competitive competition again in January 2024, while he was allowed to return to Brentford first-team training last week.

Though he is still months away from taking to the pitch again, Toney’s services are in demand. 90min has reported in recent weeks that Arsenal and Chelsea are interested in the England international, while Bees head coach Thomas Frank admitted he could be sold if the price is right.

However, sources close to Brentford have strongly refuted suggestions they have set a price tag of £60m on Toney. Though they have not declared a firm asking price, 90min understands the Bees would likely ask for a fee in excess of £75m for the England international.

Arsenal and Chelsea could yet choose to meet these demands, though sources have told 90min that both are willing to offer players as makeweights in their proposals. However, it is not currently clear whether this would appeal to Brentford.

90min reported last week that Brentford were scouring the market for strikers regardless of Toney’s future, with Wolfsburg’s Denmark international Jonas Wind among their targets.

Brentford have made a slow start to the season in the absence of Toney, winning just one of their opening six Premier League games.