Arsenal should ignore Brentford ace Ivan Toney and target the transfer of Ollie Watkins instead following sporting director Edu holding talks with the Aston Villa star’s agent.

That is the opinion of Mikael Silvestre, who would favour Watkins over Toney with control of the Gunners’ spending. Arsenal are due to explore the transfer of a new centre-forward over January to further bolster Mikel Arteta’s side. But finances may be tight at Emirates Stadium.

Arsenal invested heavily in sustaining their threat as challengers for the Premier League title after last season’s near-miss. But Arteta did not sign competition for Gabriel Jesus and Eddie Nketiah. So, Toney and Watkins have emerged as potential targets for a mid-season transfer.

Arsenal are interested in January transfers for Toney and Watkins

Reports by Football Transfers have claimed that Arsenal are targeting Toney’s transfer from Brentford in January. But Arteta accepts the Gunners have a limited budget and anything he pays will affect next summer. So, he is leaning toward targeting Wolves’ Pedro Neto instead.

Toney will return to playing in January following the expiration of his ban after breaching the FA’s betting rules. Yet he might kick a ball competitively with the Gunners. The Daily Mail has noted that Toney appreciates a transfer to Arsenal as much as Arteta wants the £80m target.

Alternatively, Arsenal might target Watkins, as Football Transfers also reported in September that Edu had spoken with the Aston Villa striker’s agent, Paulo Vernazza. Arteta and Watkins – who has interest from Chelsea – have also publicly declared their admiration for the other.

Silvestre urges Arteta to target Watkins over Toney come January

Aston Villa are under no pressure to sell Watkins, though, having just convinced the 27-year-old to sign a new contract. The Villans’ £28m, rising up to £33m, former record signing from Brentford penned a long-term extension earlier this month after three years in Birmingham.

Still, Silvestre claims Watkins would be the better transfer target for Arsenal than Toney. He has scored seven and assisted four goals in 13 games so far this season for Aston Villa. The Torquay native also scored 15 in 37 Premier League matches last term as Toney hit 20 in 33.

“Right now, you have Eddie Nketiah at the club alongside Gabriel Jesus,” Silvestre has told GG Recon. “But signing a third striker could present them with a luxury that could be useful at this level.

“Especially when you consider the amount of games that Arsenal could potentially play this season. The team always needs healthy competition and it needs quality.

“So, if Arsenal were to sign another striker in the near future, then it would be Watkins over Toney if the decision was up to me.”

The post Arsenal told to ignore Ivan Toney transfer for £28m reported target after Edu agent talks appeared first on Arsenal Insider.