Ivan Toney sends teasing message to Arsenal & Chelsea over future transfer

Ivan Toney has left the door open to a transfer to Arsenal or Chelsea by admitting that he wants to play for a "top club" in the near future.

The striker returned to the fold on Wednesday after serving an eight-month ban for breaches of FA betting rules between February 2017 and January 2021.

Both Arsenal and Chelsea have looked at Toney for possible January reinforcements, although the two London rivals are expected to look elsewhere amid concerns over Brentford's asking price of over £80m.

Toney, who has publicly stressed his desire to repay Brentford's support during his ban, appeared to put an end to the speculation earlier this week when he told former teammate Pontus Jansson that he would be staying at the club this January in a conversation which was broadcast on club channels.

However, in a fresh interview with Sky Sports, Toney confessed he would be open to a January move if the right offer arrived.

"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," said Toney.

"Everybody wants to play for a top club that is fighting for titles. Whether it's this January that is the right time for a club to come in and pay the right money, who knows?"

Toney also insisted that, having been allowed to train with Brentford since September, fans can expect to see him hit the ground running upon his return to first-team action.

"I believe you will see [the real Ivan Toney] straightaway," he vowed. "I'd like to think it will be there straightaway as I've been playing well behind closed doors, training well.

"I feel I can pick up where I left off. I've got nothing to prove to anybody but just to myself I want to focus on starting right and scoring goals sooner rather than later."

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