Ivan Toney to Chelsea transfer: Toney verdict, Brentford bold move, Arsenal and Liverpool intrigue

Chelsea are expected to strengthen again in the January transfer window, with Mauricio Pochettino making it clear he wants further depth up top. The Blues should get Christopher Nkunku back this weekend, and Nicolas Jackson has gained confidence in recent weeks, but Pochettino still wants more variety at the top end of the pitch.

The Blues are now being linked with Brentford striker Ival Toney, who has been out through suspension throughout this season, due to return to action midway through January. Here we round up all the latest on the Toney transfer front.

Toney is 'split'

Toney has been heavily linked with a move away from Brentford, with Arsenal and Chelsea said to be interested, but according to The Sun, the striker is not yet sure if he wants to leave in January, feeling he has a debt to repay Brentford given how they have stuck by him during his suspension.

A source told The Sun: "A lot of people assume Ivan will be on his way after Christmas, but no deal has been done - and nothing has been decided. Ivan is torn over his future. Brentford have stood by him and the club have been brilliant. Part of him wants to help them by hitting the ground running straight away in January and scoring the goals which will ensure they stay in the Premier League.

"There are a lot of clubs interested in Ivan but his focus, for now, is getting back on the pitch at Brentford and doing the business for his manager Thomas Frank, to whom he feels he has a big debt to repay. The same goes for the fans. He’s determined to get back in the England squad and Ivan fully believes in himself to make the first squad once he’s back playing football."

Contract latest

Toney is under contract until 2025 at Brentford, and according to TalkSPORT, not only are the Bees refusing to sanction the sale of their lead striker in January, but they are confident that he will sign a new contract.

A new contract would go a long way to warding off interest from Premier League rivals, raising his value even further. Brentford were already reportedly asking for £100million to sell Toney this winter, and a new contract could just put paid to any move in the near future, including the summer.

What Toney has said

Toney has spoken during his suspension, giving an interview to the Diary of the CEO podcast about his rule breaches and his career as a whole. During that interview, he admitted: "I have been a Liverpool fan my whole life, but I have liked Arsenal.

"I like watching Arsenal and how they play and kind of how passionate the fans are. But, yeah, Liverpool fan, Liverpool boy at heart.”