Arsenal handed surprise boost in pursuit of 'special' Toney alternative

Cameron Smith

• 23 Jan 2024 01:00 CST
• 4 min read

Arsenal have received a surprise boost in their pursuit of Bayer Leverkusen striker Victor Boniface, who is seen as an alternative to Brentford’s Ivan Toney.

The 23-year-old joined Xabi Alonso’s side for €20.5 million from Union Saint-Gilloise in 2023 and he has scored 16 goals and provided eight assists in his first six months in Germany.

Stats

Frenkie de Jong

M, VM(C)

FC Barcelona

Frenkie de Jong

M, VM(C)

FC Barcelona

La Liga

2023/24

• 10

  Games

• 5

  Assists

• 3

  Goals

View all stats

Current ETV

Frenkie de Jong

M, VM(C)

FC Barcelona

Frenkie de Jong

M, VM(C)

FC Barcelona

€49M

ETV Bereik

€36M - €61.3M

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Gallery

1/3

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Transfer Rumour

Frenkie de Jong

M, VM(C)

FC Barcelona

Frenkie de Jong

M, VM(C)

FC Barcelona

€104M

Man City

View Rumour Report

Transfer Rumour

Frenkie de Jong

M, VM(C)

FC Barcelona

Frenkie de Jong

M, VM(C)

FC Barcelona

Fee
Unknown

Man City

View Rumour Report

Compared

Frenkie de Jong

M, VM(C)

FC Barcelona

Frenkie de Jong

M, VM(C)

FC Barcelona

VS

Frenkie de Jong

M, VM(C)

FC Barcelona

Frenkie de Jong

M, VM(C)

FC Barcelona

Frenkie de Jong

Frenkie de Jong

View full comparison

Compared

Frenkie de Jong

M, VM(C)

FC Barcelona

Frenkie de Jong

M, VM(C)

FC Barcelona

VS

Frenkie de Jong

M, VM(C)

FC Barcelona

Frenkie de Jong

M, VM(C)

FC Barcelona

€52.2M	ETV	€52.2M
€36M - €61.3M	Range	€36M - €61.3M
25 years old (12 May 1997)	Age	25 years old (12 May 1997)
NED	Nationality	NED

View full comparison

Compared

Frenkie de Jong

M, VM(C)

FC Barcelona

Frenkie de Jong

M, VM(C)

FC Barcelona

VS

Frenkie de Jong

M, VM(C)

FC Barcelona

Frenkie de Jong

M, VM(C)

FC Barcelona

Transfer history

To club	Transfer fee
FC Barcelona 2023/24	€75M
Williem II Tilburg 2023/24	loan
Ajax Amsterdam 2023/24	€1

To club	Transfer fee
Manchester City 2019/20	€70M
Atlético Madrid 2018/19	€20M
Villareal CF 2013/14	free
Atlético Madrid 2013/14	€1.5M

View full comparison

Compared

Frenkie de Jong

M, VM(C)

FC Barcelona

Frenkie de Jong

M, VM(C)

FC Barcelona

VS

Frenkie de Jong

M, VM(C)

FC Barcelona

Frenkie de Jong

M, VM(C)

FC Barcelona

Season statistics

7	Goals	4
12	Assists	11
300	Minutes played	360
17	Opportunities	17
32	Tackles	56
22	Tackles won	42

View full comparison

Compared

Frenkie de Jong

M, VM(C)

FC Barcelona

Frenkie de Jong

M, VM(C)

FC Barcelona

VS

Frenkie de Jong

M, VM(C)

FC Barcelona

Frenkie de Jong

M, VM(C)

FC Barcelona

Common trophies

2	Best deep lying playmakers	1
6	Most valuable deep lying playmakers	1
49	Most valuable midfielders	9
27	Best players playing in UEFA Champions League	10
32	Best players worldwide	11
77	Most valuable players worldwide	17

View full comparison

Next Match

D W W D L

Aston Villa

427 DAYS

02:00 PM

L W L D W

Liverpool

Tue, 14 May 2024 - Villa Park

Premier League - Gameweek 37

Fixtures & Results

Date	Home	Score	Away
11 Apr 24	Liverpool	0-3	Atalanta
14 Apr 24	Liverpool	0-1	C. Palace
18 Apr 24	Atalanta	0-1	Liverpool
21 Apr 24	Fulham	1-3	Liverpool
24 Apr 24	Everton	2-0	Liverpool
27 Apr 24	West Ham United	2-2	Liverpool
5 May 24	Liverpool	4-2	Tottenham
13 May 24	Aston Villa	3-3	Liverpool
19 May 24	Liverpool	10:00	Wolverhampton
26 Jul 24	Liverpool	18:30	Real Betis
3 Aug 24	Man Utd	18:30	Liverpool

Date	Teams		Score
11 Apr 24	Liverpool Atalanta		0 3
14 Apr 24	Liverpool C. Palace		0 1
18 Apr 24	Atalanta Liverpool		0 1
21 Apr 24	Fulham Liverpool		1 3
24 Apr 24	Everton Liverpool		2 0
27 Apr 24	West Ham United Liverpool		2 2
5 May 24	Liverpool Tottenham		4 2
13 May 24	Aston Villa Liverpool		3 3
19 May 24	Liverpool Wolverhampton		10:00
26 Jul 24	Liverpool Real Betis		18:30
3 Aug 24	Man Utd Liverpool		18:30

Haaland

€16M

Haaland

€16M

Haaland

€16M

Haaland

€16M

Haaland

€16M

Haaland

€16M

Haaland

€16M

Haaland

€16M

Haaland

€16M

Haaland

€16M

Haaland

€16M

Haaland

€16M

Haaland

€16M

Haaland

€16M

Haaland

€16M

Haaland

€16M

Haaland

€16M

Haaland

€16M

Haaland

€16M

Haaland

€16M

Haaland

€16M

Haaland

€16M

Haaland

€16M

Haaland

€16M

Haaland

€16M

Haaland

€16M

Formation:

4-2-2

Team Value:

€160M

Boniface’s electric start to life at Leverkusen has attracted widespread transfer interest, with Arsenal, Chelsea, West Ham United and Newcastle United reportedly all keen on acquiring his services.

The Sun have reported that West Ham plan on breaking their transfer record to beat Arsenal and Newcastle to Boniface, while Arsenal are also scouting the Nigerian, according to CBS Sports.

However, the Leverkusen star is currently sidelined through an adductor injury, which ruled him out of representing his country at the Africa Cup of Nations.

To combat Boniface’s absence, Bayer Leverkusen are targeting a move for Real Betis forward Borja Iglesias, as per Fabrizio Romano.

The transfer expert posted on Facebook: “Bayer Leverkusen have now made formal approach to sign Borja Iglesias. Bayer and Real Betis are in talks, loan with buy option clause offered today.

“Betis are only open to permanent move, as of now - but talks will continue.”

While the Spaniard is viewed as a short-term solution before Boniface returns to fitness, his potential arrival could open the door for Arsenal to pounce and land one of the most exciting young strikers in world football.

Arsenal to sign Victor Boniface?

Although Iglesias doesn’t possess the same attributes as Boniface, the Betis forward may be given the chance to impress during the second-half of the season as Leverkusen push for a surprise Bundesliga title.

If the 31-year-old is able to replicate Boniface’s impact with regards to goals, assists and all-round play, then Leverkusen may be willing to sell the Nigerian in the summer.

That could allow Arsenal to finally sign the number nine they have been craving.

The Gunners are also interested in Toney and Alexander Isak, but Boniface may represent a slightly cheaper option with a similar level of potential.

The Leverkusen striker was recently described as "special" by Chelsea legend John Obi Mikel on his Obi One Podcast. The ex-Blues midfielder admitted: "He [Boniface] will become a complete striker in the next couple of years.

"He has the physique, he is quick, good on the ball, technically very good and it’s difficult to see strikers that are that big and strong and powerful and then good on the ball as well.

"His assists as well, not just scoring goals, is something that will make this kid special, really, really special. I can’t wait to see what his journey will be in the next couple of years."