‘He is really good’… Gary Lineker says he’s a massive fan of £80m player Arsenal want to sign

Add as preferred source on Google

Gary Lineker has admitted that he’s a massive fan of Brentford striker and reported Arsenal target Ivan Toney.

The Gunners have been heavily linked with a move for the 27-year-old as Mikel Arteta searches for attacking reinforcements.

Reports have suggested that Arsenal could yet launch an £80 million bid to sign Toney this month.

It remains to be seen whether or not Arsenal will be able to fund a move for the Englishman in January due to Financial Fair Play restraints.

Toney returned to action over the weekend following an eight-month ban for breaching FA gambling guidelines. 

The striker marked his return with a goal and helped Brentford to a 3-2 win over Nottingham Forst.

And his comeback has led to high praise from Gary Lineker, who labelled Toney an ‘exceptional footballer’.

Lineker raves about Arsenal target Toney

Speaking on The Rest Is Football, both Lineker and Micah Richards heaped praise on Toney after he returned with a goal on Saturday. 

“I love him,” Richards said. “His hold up play has not surprised me but I’m looking at him thinking he gets hold of everything, links it up nicely, we wouldn’t say he’s the quickest but he is a strong enough runner.

“He always gets in the right position. Great in the air. And he can finish. He has got the lot.”

“I really rate him,” Lineker added. “I think he is an exceptional footballer. I think he is really good.

“He gives you something a little bit different as well and he will score goals anywhere.”

Toney netted 20 goals last season before being hit with a ban and has been heavily linked with moves to a host of top clubs over the past few months.

It’s evident that Arsenal are in need of a prolific goalscorer as they bid to go one better and get their hands on the Premier League trophy this season.

Yet, recent reports seem to point towards this being a difficult deal for Arsenal to pull off this month.

It may well be that Arteta has to wait until the summer before landing a striker but you’d imagine that Toney will remain high up on the Gunners’ list.