17 January 2024 , 17:28
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Ivan Toney has admitted he wants to play for a top club as rumours swirl over his future at Brentford.
Toney is set to make his return to action this weekend following an eight-month ban for illegal gambling. But the Bees star has also been heavily linked with a move to Arsenal, who are desperate to boost their squad with a goalscorer.
The Gunners' title challenge has faltered in recent weeks, with Toney being exactly the kind of player Mikel Arteta 's side is crying out for. Brentford are set to charge a hefty fee for the striker, who has 18 months remaining on his contract.
But in a boost to Arsenal's hopes of bringing the striker to the Emirates, Toney has now reiterated his ambition to play for a top club. He also hinted that he feels he may need to move in order to reclaim his place in the England squad.
"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. Everybody wants to play for a top club, that is fighting for titles," Toney told Sky Sports.
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"Whether it's this January that is the right time for a club to come in and pay the right money, who knows? But my main focus is to do what I do on the pitch, and let the background work take care of itself.
"To be the best, you have to play with the best and compete against the best. We all know Harry Kane is one of the best strikers in the world and he's been doing it for some years now. If I want to be England's No 1, then I have to compete against him.
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Toney will make his return to action from an eight-month ban this weekend (Clive Rose/Getty Images)"He's not a bad striker to be taking tips off and be training with. I just have to keep scoring goals, keep playing well and then who knows what could happen? If I just fall short, then hopefully I can become the second best in the world."
While Toney has established himself as a reliable goalscorer in the top-flight, there have been some doubts that he will be able to immediately get back to that level. Toney himself is not worried though and has insisted he is not concerned.
"I feel like a free man. A massive weight has been lifted off my shoulders. I can't wait to get back to enjoying playing football again this Saturday. It's a big day today but an even bigger day on Saturday," he added.
"My whole family knows what the weekends are about - they travel down to watch me play football. Missing that for eight months is painful. I can't wait to repay them in the next games, pick up where I left off and get the goals back under my belt.
"I feel bad but I can't dwell on it. I can't change what's happened. What's done is done. Hopefully I can now put on a show. I believe you will see [the real Ivan Toney] straightaway. I'd like to think it will be there straightaway.
"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."