Brentford striker Ivan Toney has said he plans to play for a “top-level club competing for trophies” and has not ruled out leaving the west London club this month amid transfer links with Chelsea and Arsenal.
In an interview with Sky Sports, Toney also said he is aiming to be included in Gareth Southgate's England squad for this summer's European Championship after his eight-month suspension for breaching FA betting rules ended on Wednesday. .
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The 27-year-old, whose last game for Brentford's first team was against Liverpool on May 6, 2023, has been able to train with his teammates since September and scored a hat-trick in a behind-closed-doors friendly for Brentford B against Southampton sub -23 on January 6.
“You can never predict when the right time will be to move somewhere else, but I think it's obvious that I want to play for a top club,” he said.
“Everyone wants to play for a top-level club, fighting for titles. If this January is the right time for a club to come in and pay the right money, who knows?
“But my main goal is to do what I do on the field and let the background work take care of itself.”
Toney was diagnosed as a gambling addict after accepting 232 breaches of the FA's betting rules.
When asked what it's like to be in the grip of addiction, Toney said, “Maybe I couldn't tell you as much as others. [addicts]. Sometimes you don't realize what you are doing at that moment. Only later do you realize that you are doing something you shouldn't be doing.
“But it's fixed now. I've been talking to people about this and I feel like it's fixed now. Hopefully now I'll focus on doing the right thing in the future and there won't be any more silly punishments like this.
“I don't feel like doing anything like this right now, so it's all good. As men, it's hard for them to open up about certain things. I tend to keep everything inside. I don't like to share anything. I've changed a little because I had to share certain bits of information, but not much.
“It's still hard for me to open up and share certain emotions, but that's just who I am as a person. Maybe that will change, but as humans we need to open up more in certain situations.”
Brentford have struggled to regain their form in Toney's absence and have failed to win any of their last seven games in all competitions, leaving them 16th in the table, just three points above the decline.
Toney was Brentford's top scorer last season after scoring 21 goals and helping the club finish in the top half of the Premier League for the first time in their history.
The striker has been the subject of interest from Chelsea and Arsenal, but Brentford manager Thomas Frank has insisted Toney will not be sold in the January transfer window unless a significant offer is made.
