Chelsea make firm Ivan Toney decision amid renewed Arsenal interest ahead of January transfer

Chelsea will not prioritise a deal for Ivan Toney, paving the way for Arsenal to lead the chase for the Brentford striker who can return to playing football in January.

Toney will be able to play in the Premier League after January 17 after serving an eight-month ban for violating betting regulations governing the game.

The striker however is quite keen on a fresh start and will look to move to a new club, hit the ground running and put himself up for England's Euro campaign next summer.

The former Newcastle forward has since changed agents in a bid to get the move, joining super agents and renowned sports management firm CAA Stellar in a clear indication of his intention to leave Brentford. 

Londonworld sources though say Chelsea will not make a bid for a number of reasons, including the fact that the striker himself is not too keen on moving to west London and has instead told close friends he prefers a move to Mikel Arteta's Arsenal.

Toney's age is also one that Chelsea have considered given he will be 28 next March, with Brentford also not lowering their price tag for him.

Bees manager Thomas Frank admitted earlier in the season that he was looking forward to having his striker back even though he revealed every player has a price.

He told Monday Night Football in September: "I think every club in the world are a selling club except five or six clubs. We are a selling club, if the right price is there.

"I think if it’s the right time for the player to go, from my perspective that’s not my decision that would be Phil [Giles, director of football] or Matthew [Benham, Brentford’s owner] in the end, then I think if they have developed well with us, been on the journey, and now they’re proven good enough to go to the top clubs, then I think it’s the right thing, if it’s the right price."

Only Erling Haaland and Harry Kane scored more Toney's 20 Premier League goals last season and it's quite clear why he will be an expensive signing in the January transfer window.