Arsenal and Chelsea transfer target told which club to join in January

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Ivan Toney has been advised by Troy Deeney to join Chelsea instead of Arsenal when the January transfer window opens.

Toney is currently serving a lengthy football ban after he was found guilty of breaching the Premier League’s betting rules.

The 27-year-old is however expected to be available to play again from January 17, amid interest from Chelsea and Arsenal.

The Blues, like their London rivals, are in need of a proven goalscorer, but Deeney believes that Toney would get much more playing time at Stamford Bridge than at Arsenal.

“My advice to him would be to join a project where you fit like a glove — and that would be Chelsea,” the 30-year-old told The Sun.

“Blues boss Mauricio Pochettino’s biggest problem is still a need for an out-and-out striker. After £1BILLION of spending, where are his 20 goals coming from consistently?

“So, what is another £100million to them? That’s the going rate for a top player nowadays, and I reckon Brentford would accept £80m plus add-ons.

“Some may argue Chelsea as a club is a circus. Why would any player, especially one who has been out for a lengthy period, want to get involved there as they hover around mid-table with no European football?

“But elite strikers have this different sort of mindset and arrogance. Ivan will look at that team, that situation, and think: ‘Let me show you why I am the Guv’nor.’

“He may well also be the missing piece to Arsenal’s hunt for the title but they play a style that would force him to change his game quite significantly, getting used to not having as many touches as he would like.

“Or, Mikel Arteta would have to slightly tweak his own style. I can’t see that happening.”