The Gunners are reportedly eyeing up Sporting CP striker Gyokeres, but his hefty £86million release clause could be a stumbling block for the north Londoners. Sporting are also in no rush to sell their prized asset, who is under contract until 2028.
Jeffers - who lifted two FA Cups and a Premier League trophy during his time at Arsenal - believes manager Mikel Arteta should instead opt for a proven Premier League goalscorer. And he has named Brentford's Toney and Aston Villa star Ollie Watkins as potential targets worth pursuing.
"The squad's clearly good enough, but I think they're lacking a striker, if I'm honest," he told football.london, in partnership with William Hill Vegas. "An out-an-out striker, someone who scores scruffy goals, someone who'll be in the box and win those tight games for them."
"Who that is, I don't know. You'd like it to be someone who has got Premier League experience, maybe an Ivan Toney or Ollie Watkins. I don't think you'll get Watkins out of Villa. I think Villa are pushing on now, so that will be a difficult one, but I think Ivan Toney would be a good [signing]."
Gabriel Jesus had starred as Arteta's first-choice striker when available until Kai Havertz offered a different attacking option last season. However, neither player managed to have a title-clinching impact, with Havertz and Jesus contributing 14 and eight goals, respectively, across all competitions.
These numbers are overshadowed by the performances of Toney and Watkins, who have been far more consistent in recent seasons. However, the fact both strikers are 28 contradicts the youth-centric approach Arsenal have adopted under director Edu.
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Watkins scored 27 times in 53 appearances in all competitions last term, including 19 in the Premier League. This placed him joint-fourth in the Golden Boot race, which Manchester City star Erling Haaland ultimately retained with his haul of 27 goals.
Toney, meanwhile, ended last season with just four goals in 17 matches after being suspended for the first half of the season. He did score 20 goals in 33 games in the previous Premier League season, however, which is a more accurate reflection of his abilities.
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Toney's departure from the Gtech Community Stadium also seems likely given his current contract expires in 2025. The Bees risk losing a valuable asset for nothing if they keep the player for the upcoming season, while it was only last October that Watkins penned a new five-year deal at Villa.
Ex-Everton star Jeffers emphasised that Arsenal haven't got the luxury of affording a new talent time to bed in, hence his preference of seeing a proven Premier League asset arrive. Despite Gyokeres' impressive scoring record in Portugal, with 43 goals in 50 matches last season, the former Brighton player's lack of experience in that sector could hinder any move.
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