Arsenal plot move for 'fantastic' Ivan Toney alternative who could save the club millions

Arsenal is reportedly considering a move for Feyenoord striker Santiago Gimenez, who could be a more affordable alternative to Brentford's Ivan Toney.

Toney, who is currently serving a ban imposed by the Football Association for breaching betting rules, has been linked with a move away from the Gtech Community Stadium upon his return to football in January. Premier League giants Arsenal and Chelsea have shown interest in the 27-year-old striker.

However, Brentford's asking price of at least £80 million for their star player might deter Arsenal from pursuing Toney. As an alternative, the Gunners have reportedly set their sights on Feyenoord's Santiago Gimenez.

Gimenez has had an impressive run since the beginning of the last season, netting 34 goals for the Dutch side. His performance has not gone unnoticed, with clubs like Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur also reportedly showing interest.

Feyenoord legend Mario Been praised Gimenez in an interview with ESPN, as reported by GOAL. He said, “Gimenez truly is fantastic. He hadn't even touched the ball before his first goal, but that was a fantastic finish. Feyenoord have immense goalscoring prowess.”

To fund a potential move for Toney, Arsenal would reportedly need to offload several fringe players. Emile Smith Rowe, Eddie Nketiah, and Reiss Nelson are among the names being considered for a potential exit.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta spoke highly of Smith Rowe, saying, “He is incredibly popular. We all love him. It’s no different what the people feel and what we feel about him." He further added that players need to perform on the pitch and contribute to winning games for the club.