“He wants only Arsenal”: Fabrizio Romano revealed that Arsenal will beat Chelsea as £100m star really want to join Gunners because of Saka and Martinelli

Arsenal is expected to be Ivan Toney’s preferred destination in January or summer, as many top European clubs, including Chelsea, are interested in him. Toney has been heavily linked with a move away from the Gtech Community Stadium in the new year, with some reports suggesting a transfer fee of up to £100 million.

Chelsea and Arsenal are in desperate need of a goalscorer to help them increase their number of strikers. Eddie Nketiah and Gabriel Jesus have only found the net 7 times in 26 Premier League games, while Nicolas Jackson (£32m) has started slowly at Stamford Bridge.

Toney scored 20 goals in the English Championship last season but has not played a single game in the 2023/2024 season since being handed an eight-month suspension in May. He is expected to return in mid-January and will have something to prove when he steps onto the pitch next month.

But with whom will he return? According to Fabrizio Romano, it could be Arsenal, as the Englishman is said to be “very impressed” by the interest shown in him by North London.

Speaking to his Kick Channel, Romano gave an update on Toney’s transfer saga. “From what I have heard, there is another detail about Ivan Toney,” he said. “There is a rumor I have heard that he would prefer to go to Arsenal in terms of a move to a top club in January or in the summer.

“From what I hear, Ivan Toney could be very excited about the possibility of going to Arsenal.” However, there are conflicting reports from The Sun, who claim that Toney feels indebted to Brentford for standing by him.

Therefore, a move to the Emirates in the summer is more likely than in January. A source told the British tabloid: “A lot of people assume Ivan will leave after Christmas, but no deal has been done – and nothing has been decided.

“Ivan is divided over his future. Brentford have stood by him and the club has been excellent. Part of him wants to help them by starting straight away in January and scoring the goals that will ensure they stay in the Premier League.

“There are many clubs interested in Ivan, but right now he is concentrating on getting back to Brentford and doing a job for his manager Thomas Frank, who he feels owes him a big debt. The same goes for the fans.

“He is determined to get back into the England team and Ivan has full confidence in himself to take a place in the first team when he plays football again.” The report adds that Brentford feel no pressure to sell their star striker.