Arsenal and Chelsea vie for Brentford’s Ivan Toney as the striker’s £100m valuation raises the stakes in the January transfer window and Thomas Frank says he wants Toney to stay forever’.

As the January transfer window approaches, Brentford‘s forward Ivan Toney has emerged as a central figure in transfer speculation, with Arsenal and Chelsea showing interest in the England striker.

Currently serving an eight-month ban for breaching betting rules, Toney’s return to the pitch is slated for January 17, just in time for the winter transfer frenzy.

Brentford’s manager, Thomas Frank, has recently expressed his desire for Toney to remain at the club indefinitely, amid the swirling rumours.

“I want him to stay. Ivan is happy to stay,” Frank said, underscoring the player’s significance to the team.

“He is happy at the club. What happens in the future is impossible to guess about.

“He’s a top player, one of our most important players, if not the most important last year. Any player that can score 20-plus goals in the Premier League are very, very important.

“Ivan’s skillset in terms of finishing abilities with his left and right (foot), heading and his composure in those moments and his link-up play and his presence, character, is a very good package.

“It’s not (up to) me to put a price tag on him, it’s down to the club. But I’m happy with him, I hope he plays here forever and I’m the coach.”

Toney, who scored an impressive 20 goals last season and debuted for England in March, has been pivotal for the Bees, so it’s no wonder Frank would label him as “a top player, one of our most important players, if not the most important last year.”

Despite the apparent contentment with life at Brentford, Toney’s future is the subject of intense speculation.

Reports suggest Brentford have placed a formidable £100 million price tag on him. This figure doubles the speculated £50-60 million that was previously thought to be enough to secure the striker’s services, potentially deterring suitors due to the steep asking price.

Arsenal’s interest in Toney is particularly noteworthy. Allegedly, the player himself is keen on a move to the Gunners and may have been a target for the club in the summer if not for his suspension.

This interest is despite the formidable financial expectations set by Brentford. Arsenal’s pursuit of Toney highlights the club’s ambition to reinforce their attacking options, a sentiment echoed in their reported interest in Feyenoord’s Santiago Gimenez.

Gimenez, another player linked with Arsenal, has had a remarkable run since his transfer from Mexico, with a tally of 38 goals in 57 games for Feyenoord.

His prolific scoring has not gone unnoticed, with a host of clubs including Real Madrid, Tottenham, and Chelsea keeping tabs on the 22-year-old sensation.

However, his current contract until 2027 and Feyenoord’s £90 million valuation — which would set a record Eredivisie transfer fee — could pose significant obstacles for any interested parties, including Arsenal.

The competition for Toney and Gimenez, especially with Chelsea also in the mix, adds a layer of rivalry between the London clubs. This battle for talent epitomises the Premier League’s global allure and its pull for young, promising players worldwide, and Chelsea’s inability to scout their own players.

With Brentford’s Thomas Frank adamant about retaining Toney and the player back in training, the situation presents an intriguing narrative for Arsenal’s strategic moves in the upcoming transfer window.

The club’s fans and management alike will undoubtedly be watching closely as January approaches, eager to see if either Toney or Gimenez, two prolific strikers, will pull on the Arsenal shirt.