1. Toney has just returned from an eight-month ban for violating the FA betting rules.
2. The striker is wanted by Chelsea and Arsenal, but they feel a January trade would be too costly.
3. The 27-year-old has previously declared that he wishes to return Brentford’s allegiance.
Ivan Toney has acknowledged that he wants to play for a “top club” soon, leaving the door open to a move to Chelsea or Arsenal.
On Wednesday, the striker made his comeback to the team following an eight-month suspension for violating FA betting regulations from February 2017 to January 2021.
Toney is a player who both Arsenal and Chelsea have considered for potential January reinforcements. However, with Brentford’s asking price of more than £80 million, the two London rivals are likely to seek elsewhere.
But Toney admitted in a recent interview with Sky Sports that he would consider moving in January if the right deal came up.
“You can never predict when is the right time to move elsewhere, but I think it’s obvious I want to play for a top club,” Toney stated.
“Everyone aspires to play for a premier team that is contending for championships. Who knows, maybe January would be the ideal month for a club to pay the required amount?”
After being permitted to train with Brentford since September, Toney further stated that supporters should anticipate seeing him immediately make an impact when he rejoins the first team.
“I believe you will see [the real Ivan Toney] straightaway,” he promised. “I’m hoping it will be there right immediately because I’ve been practicing and performing well behind closed doors.
I think I’m able to continue where I left off. I want to concentrate on getting off to a good start and scoring goals as quickly as possible, even though I have nothing to prove to anyone but myself.”
