8 months ago
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Brentford still have no desire to sell striker Ivan Toney this month, talkSPORT understands.
Arsenal and Chelsea-linked Toney has stated his desire to play for a 'top club' after serving an eight-month betting ban.
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But the Bees see Toney as a key player to keep them out of the relegation dogfight.
Having been handed an eight-month ban and a £50,000 fine for breaking Football Association betting rules, Toney is now set to make his first appearance of the season.
He came to the end of the ban this week, one day after Brentford's FA Cup third-round loss to Wolves.
But he will be available when Brentford host Nottingham Forest on Saturday 20 January.
The 27-year-old has not played since May 6 when he featured in the 1-0 defeat to Liverpool.
The duration of his Brentford return has come into question, as the striker has expressed ambitions which might be too great for one wearing a Bees' shirt.
He told Sky Sports: “You can never predict when is the right time to move elsewhere.
“It’s obvious I’d like to play for a top club, everybody wants to play for the top clubs, fighting for titles and these kinds of things.
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"So whether it’s this January for a club to come in and pay the right money, who knows? But my main focus is doing what I do on the pitch and let the background work take care of itself.”
But Brentford need Toney in their ranks now more than ever.
Five consecutive losses in their last five league games mean they currently have the worst run of any team in the Premier League.
Alan Pardew thinks Arsenal will struggle in the Premier League if they do not bring in a striker of the calibre of Brentford's Ivan Toney or Napoli's Victor Osimhen
Sitting in 16th spot in the table, they now have an unenviable run of games which will see them face the likes of Tottenham, Liverpool and Manchester City (twice) before the end of February.
They have been unable to follow up the impressive performances which saw them finish in ninth place last season, despite it being only their second season since moving up to the Premier League.
Toney, who received his first England call-up in September 2022, scored 20 goals for Brentford last season.
Their goal tally so far this season is only six more than that.
The striker will certainly have his work cut out for him if he is to salvage Brentford's season.
At the same time - having picked up his first England cap in March 2023 - he will be eyeing up a squad in the coveted England squad ahead of this year's European Championship.
