Chris Sutton urges Arsenal to avoid signing Ivan Toney in January and instead move for 'up to speed' Premier League striker to help the Gunners maintain their title charge

Arsenal have been heavily linked to sign Brentford's Ivan Toney in January The striker is currently serving an eight-month ban after breaching betting rules  Watch out Liverpool and Arsenal! Man City are ready to do what they always do and hit top gear at this stage of the season - Listen to It's All Kicking Off

Chris Sutton has urged Arsenal not to sign Ivan Toney in January and instead look to an ‘up to speed’ Premier League striker to help them maintain their title charge.

The Gunners have been heavily linked to sign the Brentford forward in the upcoming transfer window with the 27-year-old having reportedly been ‘really excited’ about the prospect of joining the north London club.

Toney is currently serving an eight-month ban for breaching the Football Association’s rules on betting and is free to return on January 16.

The forward has been making a gradual come-back to training in recent months as his restrictions ease, having also played in a behind-closed-doors match according to reports.

His absence has been a huge loss for Brentford, with Toney returning an impressive 20 goals in 33 Premier League appearances last season.

Arsenal have been urged not to sign Brentford star Ivan Toney in the January transfer window

Mikel Arteta’s side are hoping to add to their forward stocks in a bid to maintain their title charge

Chris Sutton believes that Toney may not be the right striker for the Gunners at this moment

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And as Arsenal look to maintain their title charge this season, Mikel Arteta is in the market for a new striker to help improve the Gunner’s threat in front of goal, with Toney being one of the top picks on the Spanish manager’s shortlist.

But, according to Sutton, Toney may not be the right fit for the Gunners at this moment in time.

‘They are playing catch-up to Liverpool, with City hot on their heels – Pep Guardiola’s side would go above them if they win their game in hand,’ Sutton said to BBC Sport.

‘There’s been plenty of talk already about how manager Mikel Arteta needs to sign another striker in January.

‘Brentford’s Ivan Toney has been linked for a while, but he has not played for months because of his suspension. He will have been training, but how much match sharpness does he have?’

Sutton instead gave his verdict on who Arsenal should sign to help them score more goals, claiming that the north London outfit should look to Bournemouth’s Dominic Solanke instead.

‘Arsenal are trying to win the title, so they haven’t got time to wait for anyone to get up to speed,’ he added.

‘If we are looking at the names that are supposedly within their grasp, Bournemouth’s Dominic Solanke stands out as the best candidate.’

Solanke is in red-hot form for the Cherries and has played a big part in their excellent run of late, with Andoni Iraola’s side now fifth in the Premier League’s form charts having been unbeaten in their last seven matches.

The 26-year-old has scored 12 goals in 18 Premier League appearances so far this season, having also scored in his last three appearances, including a hat-trick during their 3-2 win against Nottingham Forest.

Sutton had also recently said on Mail Sport’s podcast ‘It’s All Kicking Off’ that Solanke desreves an England call up at next summer’s Euros.

His flying form has also garnered him attention from clubs around the top-flight, with Tottenham ‘closely watching’ the former Liverpool and Chelsea star.

Solanke, who is valued at around £50million, would come at a much cheaper price than Toney, with the Brentford star reportedly worth around £100m.

Brentford’s poor form could also see Arsenal miss out on signing Toney in January, with Thomas Frank eager to keep hold of his star man, especially now that Bryan Mbeumo has been ruled out for three months following an operation on his ankle.

Sutton instead claimed that the Gunners should sign Bournemouth’s Dominic Solanke

Solanke is in red-hot form for the Cherries having scored 12 goals in 18 Premier League games

Toney’s eight-month ban from football is set to end on January 16 with several clubs interested in signing the striker

‘To get Ivan back will be like signing an unbelievably good striker, who is proven in the Premier League,’ Frank said.

‘Of course we are looking forward to that. Ivan is training very well, on and off the pitch, and looking forward to finally contributing to the team.

He added: ‘Am I desperate to keep him? Desperate is a big word. I’d really, really like to keep him. I’m a head coach. I’d love to have my best players with me all the time.

‘So from my perspective, I don’t want to sell him. That’s me, because he is fantastic. Last year three players scored more than 20 goals in the Premier League and he was one of them.’