Toney opens door to January exit as Arsenal and Chelsea circle

Ivan Toney refuses to rule out leaving Brentford this month and has reaffirmed his desire to play for a "top club".

Toney, 27, is set to return to action against Nottingham Forest on Saturday after serving an eight-month ban for betting offences.

The striker, who scored 20 goals in 33 Premier League appearances for the Bees last season, has been strongly linked with Arsenal and Chelsea during the January transfer window.

And in an interview with Sky Sports ahead of the clash with Forest at the Gtech Community Stadium, Toney stopped short of committing his future to the Bees. 

He said: "You can never predict when is the right time to move elsewhere but I think it's obvious I want to play for a top club.

"Everybody wants to play for a top club fighting for titles. Whether it's this January that's the right time for a club to come in and pay the right money, who knows?

"But my main focus is to do what I do on the pitch and let the background work take care of itself."

While his long-term future appears destined to be elsewhere, Brentford will be desperate to keep hold of their talisman for the rest of the season. 

Having lost their last five league outings, Thomas Frank's men are just three points above the relegation zone.

But their prized asset also has grand aims to dislodge Harry Kane as England's main striker.

The one-cap Three Lions international added: "To be the best you have to play with the best and compete against the best. 

"We all know Harry is one of the best strikers in the world, he's been doing it for some years now.

"So if I want to be England's No1 [striker], I have to compete against him. He's not a bad striker to be taking tips off.

"I've just got to keep scoring goals, keep playing well. If I fall just short of that, hopefully I can be the second best in the world!"