Fabrizio Romano makes Arsenal and Chelsea transfer ‘race’ claim as striker switches agents

Arsenal and Chelsea are said to be contenders in the race to sign Brentford star Ivan Toney in January.

Toney remains suspended from football over gambling violations, not eligible to play until after mid-January. But while he has not been able to prove himself and continue his red-hot form of last season this term, he is already said to be lining up a transfer ahead of the January transfer window.

The 27-year-old has been with Brentford for more than three years, scoring 63 goals in 111 league games, and it seems he is now looking for a bigger move.

According to Fabrizio Romano, Toney has already switched agents, positioning himself for a move in January when he will get his eligibility back, and Arsenal and Chelsea are said to be possible options.

“Ivan Toney plan remains clear: try new, different opportunity in 2024 as he signed with new agents, represented by Stellar,” Romano tweeted. “Arsenal and Chelsea are both informed on potential conditions of the deal for January or summer, different price. Race still open.”

Chelsea have been without Christopher Nkunku through injury, but Mauricio Pochettio has made it clear that he wants another top-level striker, while Arsenal seem to need something different amid uncertainty between alternative forwards Kai Havertz and Eddie Nketiah.

According to TalkSPORT, Brentford will demand more than £60million to sell Toney, who is under contract until 2025. The contract means the Bees may be better off selling their star striker in January instead of the summer, when he will have jus a year remaining on his deal.

As for prospective buyers, there will be some uncertainty given Toney won’t be in any sort of rhythm when he returns in mid-January. He won’t have played a single game of competitive football since last season, but he was able to return to training last week with only four months of the eight-month ban applying to training.