Arsenal Transfer News Roundup: Ivan Toney prefers Gunners move, Liverpool monitoring Pedro Neto, and more - October 13, 2023

Arsenal finished second behind Manchester City in the Premier League last season and invested heavily in the squad to go all the way this year. Mikel Arteta’s side are unbeaten in the league after eight games this season and sit second in the league behind Tottenham Hotspur.

Meanwhile, Ivan Toney prefers a move to the Emirates. Elsewhere, Liverpool remain interested in Pedro Neto.

On that note, let’s take a look at the major Arsenal transfer news from October 13, 2023.

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Ivan Toney prefers Arsenal move

Ivan Toney is expected to move in January

Ivan Toney prefers a move to Arsenal over Chelsea, according to The Daily Mirror. The English striker is expected to leave Brentford in January and both London clubs are hot on his heels at the moment. The 27-year-old is currently serving a ban from football due to his involvement in illegal betting.

However, Toney will be available for transfer once his suspension is lifted in January and the Gunners are keen to secure his signature. Mikel Arteta wants a new No. 9 and has set his sights on the Englishman. The Blues are monitoring the player as well, but Toney wants to move to the Emirates.

Liverpool monitoring Pedro Neto

Pedro Neto has admirers at Anfield.

Liverpool are interested in Pedro Neto, according to club insider Neil Jones. The Portuguese forward is a target for Arsenal ahead of the winter transfer window, following an impressive start to the season with Wolverhampton Wanderers. Neto has registered one goal and five assists from eight games so far and the Gunners are expected to move for him in 2024.

In his column for Caught Offside, however, Jones said that the 23-year-old will also be a fine fit in Jurgen Klopp’s side.

“The Wolves man has always been a huge talent, one admired by just about every big side including Liverpool, but injuries have set him back significantly in recent years. Now he’s back fit, we are seeing what he can do, and the pace and threat he brings, plus the room for development he has at 23, mark him out as someone who can definitely take the next step by moving to a Champions League club,” wrote Jones.

He continued:

“Whether that’s Liverpool – they still need to get back to the Champions League, by the way! – remains to be seen. I know that Neto has admirers at Anfield, and that his versatility and skillset would be well-suited to a Jurgen Klopp side.

"But then the same could be said, I believe, for a Mikel Arteta side or a Pep Guardiola side. I believe he is of that level, potentially.”

Jones believes Neto could replace Mohamed Salah at Anfield, but added that the Portuguese must improve his goalscoring form.

“The first aim for him, though, must be to stay fit and to turn this purple patch into something more sustainable. He still needs to improve his numbers, particularly in terms of goal-scoring, if he is to put himself in that top bracket of attackers,” wrote Jones.

He continued:

“But he is making waves at Wolves right now, and if he continues to do so then we can expect him to move on to bigger and better things next season. With reasons to think that the Mohamed Salah to Saudi Arabia stories might not be going away in 2024, Neto could definitely be one to watch.”

Arsenal want Neto to share the creative burden with Bukayo Saka at the Emirates.

Gunners not monitoring Quinten Timber

Arsenal are not monitoring Quinten Timber at the moment, according to acclaimed journalist Fabrizio Romano. The Dutch midfielder, who is Jurrien Timber’s younger brother, has been linked with a move to the Emirates of late.

However, in his column for Caught Offside, Romano said that the Feyenoord man needs to improve further to play at the highest level.

“Quinten Timber – Despite recent links with Arsenal and other clubs, I honestly have no update on Quinten Timber, with Arsenal or any other club. He’s a very good talent but he needs to keep going, Jurrien is at another level in terms of top elite football but Quinten is very talented too and he has potential to arrive at the top level too," wrote Romano.

Mikel Arteta is likely to invest in midfield in 2024 and Timber could be an option if he continues his development.