Tottenham-Arsenal ‘off-the-field North London derby’ hinted at as ‘£133.2bn striker’ is signed… timing ‘next January’

After the suspension, an off-the-field North London derby will take place.

“Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal are set to battle it out for Ivan Toney, 27, of Brentford next January,” the Times reported on Jan. 25. Tony is coming off an eight-month ban for betting violations ahead of this season.

Tony is undoubtedly Brentford’s ace in the hole. He led Brentford to promotion to the top flight in 2021 and has been a key member of the squad ever since. Last season was a particular highlight. He finished third in the Premier League with 20 goals, behind only Elling Holland and Harry Kane. Brentford finished a respectable 9th in the league, thanks in large part to Tony’s performance.

But there was an unexpected twist. The English Football Association (FA) charged Tony with placing a whopping 262 bets since 2017. As a result, he admitted to the charges, and the FA imposed an eight-month ban and a £50,000 ($83.3 million) fine on him.

As a result of his severe punishment, he hasn’t played a game this season. Still, he’s in high demand. His performances last season were enough to make big clubs sit up and take notice. 안전놀이터

Tottenham and Arsenal are among the clubs looking to strengthen their frontline. Spurs are looking for a replacement for Kane, who left for Bayern Munich this summer. Arsenal want to add weight to their frontline, which is anchored by Gabriel Jesus and Eddie Nketiah.

According to the media, Brentford will eventually let Tony go next January due to continued interest. Brentford have set a price tag of £80 million for Toni. His current contract is set to expire in the summer of 2025.

Meanwhile, Brentford have gotten off to a good start this season without him. They drew 2-2 with Tottenham in the first round. In the second round, they thrashed Fulham 3-0. They will host Crystal Palace in the third round of the Premier League on April 26.