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Club chief sends message to Arsenal & Chelsea over £80m-rated striker

Arsenal, Chelsea
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The two London clubs are reportedly interested in Ivan Toney and now the Brentford technical director has sent a clear message their way.

Brentford’s technical director, Lee Dykes, has warned interested clubs must pay a ‘decent transfer fee’ to sign Ivan Toney.

Toney is set to become available to play again on January 16 after an eight-month ban for gambling. The striker’s stock remains high, having scored 20 goals in the Premier League last season. His performances have sparked rumors of an £80 million move to either Arsenal or Chelsea.

At Brentford, Toney has a contract until June 2025, leaving the club with a tough decision – do they sell him now for maximum value, risk a lower deal later on, or lose him for free in 2025?

“Yes, there will be lots of interest in Ivan in January. Naturally, there should be,” Dykes said on the club’s website.

“He was the third-highest Premier League goalscorer last season – one of them [Harry Kane] has gone to Germany now, so he’s up there as one of the best strikers in the division. He is in the top five in the world, in my opinion.

“So there should be interest, and maybe the time comes very shortly that Ivan moves on to another club. But they will have to pay a decent transfer fee to acquire his services because he is some talent.”

Dykes added that for any deal to materialize, the terms and the timing must be right for the club.

He also remarked on Toney’s performances in training, noting that the 27-year-old looks sharp already and backing him to return better than ever.

Brentford, though, will have to continue without Toney for their next game on December 27. The Bees will play Wolves at home, hoping to improve on their 12th position in the Premier League.

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