“Brentford won’t permit a cut-rate deal for Ivan Toney to move to Arsenal or Chelsea, considering him among the top five players globally.”

Though it’s not a foregone conclusion at this point, it does seem highly likely that Ivan Toney will be leaving Brentford at some point.

Toney, nearing the conclusion of his eight-month suspension for violating betting regulations, has the potential to generate a significant transfer fee for Brentford.

Both Arsenal and Chelsea have expressed interest in securing the player’s services, but they might be surprised if they were hoping for a discounted price. Brentford director Lee Dykes has been clear and upfront about his expectations from any clubs seeking Toney to be their primary striker, either in January or from the beginning of the next season.

“There should be interest, and maybe the time comes very shortly that Ivan moves on to another club,” he was quoted as saying by the Daily Star.

“But they will need to pay a substantial transfer fee to secure his services because he is an exceptional talent. I am eagerly anticipating Ivan’s return as I observe him in training, and he is truly an outstanding player; it appears as though he has never been away.

There is a palpable ambition in him, and I can see in his eyes that he is poised to surpass his previous performances; I genuinely believe that will be the case. Certainly, there will be a lot of interest in Ivan come January, and rightfully so.

He was the third-highest goalscorer in the Premier League last season, and with one of them, Harry Kane, having moved to Germany, Ivan is now recognized as one of the top strikers in the division. In my opinion, he ranks among the top five strikers in the world.”