DEADLINE DAY: Arsenal confirms Striker transfer signings, registered Him for squad to face Brighton tomorrow- Jersey number is confirmed

DEADLINE DAY: Arsenal confirms the signing of a striker and adds him to the team for tomorrow’s match against Brighton. The jersey number is confirmed.

According to reports, Brentford is hoping that Arsenal’s “readying a bid” for Ivan Toney will “create a bidding war” with Chelsea for the 28-year-old.

Due to concerns over his future, Toney has not yet played for Brentford this season. As he approaches the last year of his contract, he is anticipated to leave this summer.

The England international has reportedly drawn interest from Tottenham, West Ham, and Manchester United, but it now seems like Chelsea and Arsenal are ahead of them in the running to recruit Toney, who is also one of Al-Ahli’s top targets this summer.

Toney allegedly reached a personal terms agreement with the Saudi Pro League team for a weekly salary of approximately £330,000, but Brentford turned down multiple offers from them to sign him.

Toney is being considered by Chelsea as a substitute for Victor Osimhen, who is still their first pick to face Nicolas Jackson for a starting position at Stamford Bridge.

With an Al-Ahli contract ready and waiting to be signed, transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano asserted late on Wednesday that Osimhen and Chelsea are “in active talks on salary.”

“Plan revealed now confirmed: Al Ahli delegation has arrived in Italy for direct talks with Osimhen and his camp,” the writer said on X. A release clause was included in the contract, as requested by Osimhen. Osimhen and Chelsea are currently negotiating about wages. Al Ahli transaction only goes through if the #CFC negotiations fail.

Toney and Dominic Calvert-Lewin are the Blues’ backup options, but according to Football Insider, Arsenal is “planning a shock move” for the striker.

According to the article, “sources say Arsenal have been waiting in the wings and are now readying a bid,” as they have decided to sign a new frontman in the wake of Eddie Nketiah’s £25 million move to Crystal Palace.

“A bidding war could result from late interest from Arsenal and Chelsea, giving Thomas Frank’s side a respectable fee for a player into the final year of his contract,” the article continues.

If English clubs are unable to close a deal by September 2, Al-Ahli will have three more days to do so during Saudi Arabia’s transfer window.

Several experts, including Gary Lineker, have endorsed Arsenal’s pursuit of Toney, saying he would “fit in” at the Emirates.

“I really like Ivan Toney,” Lineker remarked. He’s really talented, in my opinion, and his offering is entirely unique compared to anything else they have.

“I think he would fit in at Arsenal because he’s a great threat and a really talented football player technically. When a player gets excluded from a stage, it seems like the writing is on the wall.