Thomas Frank has revealed that Ivan Toney was left out of Brentford’s squad to face Crystal Palace on Sunday because “there is a lot of transfer interest” in the England striker.
The 28-year-old has entered the final year of his contract and made no secret of his desire to leave Brentford, with Arsenal, Chelsea and the Saudi Pro League side Al-Ahli all linked with a move. While Frank admitted that a move is “not close”, he opted to leave Toney out of his squad for the team’s opening match of the Premier League season.
“A lot of things are going on with Ivan, especially with transfers – there’s a lot of transfer interest. Because of all that, we’ve decided not to include him in the squad,” the Brentford manager told Sky Sports before kick-off.
“I can’t give too much away the day before,” the Brentford manager added. “Of course Ivan is a top player, we all know that. He has been fantastic for us for four years, but we showed last season we can cope without him.”
Asked if Toney – who featured as a substitute in Brentford’s final preseason game, against Wolfsburg last week – had played his last match for the club, he added: “Who knows? There is interest, it’s not close.”
The news of Toney’s absence comes as no surprise, as the striker has been heavily linked with a move away from Brentford in recent weeks. Al Ahli, a Saudi Pro League side, are reportedly the frontrunners for his signature, and Toney is said to be open to a move to the Middle East if he receives the right offer.
However, Brentford are holding out for a significant fee for their prized asset. Reports suggest they are seeking at least £60m for the striker, who scored 20 goals in the 2022/23 Premier League season. The asking price could be a deterrent to some clubs, as they could wait until next summer to sign Toney on a free transfer.
While Toney’s future remains uncertain, it is clear that he is no longer a guaranteed starter for Brentford. Frank’s decision to leave him out of the squad for the Crystal Palace game suggests that the manager is prepared to move on from the striker if a suitable offer arrives.
Toney's Transfer Saga: A Timeline
The saga of Toney’s potential departure from Brentford has been brewing for some time, with a number of clubs showing interest in his services. Here is a timeline of the key events:
January 2024
Toney was heavily linked with a move away from Brentford in January, with Arsenal and Manchester United both reportedly interested in signing him. However, no move materialized.
May 2024
Toney was suspended for eight months by the Football Association for breaching their betting rules. This suspension ruled him out of action for the first half of the 2023/24 season, and Brentford struggled in his absence.
June 2024
As Toney served his suspension, speculation about his future intensified. Brentford were reportedly looking to sell him, and a number of clubs were linked with a move.
August 2024
The Impact of Toney's Potential Departure
If Toney does leave Brentford, it would be a major blow to the club. The striker is a key player for the Bees, and his goals were crucial to their success in the 2022/23 season. However, Brentford have shown that they can cope without him, as they did during the first half of last season while Toney served his suspension. The club has already prepared for his potential departure, signing Igor Thiago from Club Brugge in February.
However, Thiago sustained a knee injury in pre-season and is not expected to be fit until later in the year. This means that Brentford could be left short on striking options if Toney does move on.
The club's decision to leave Toney out of the Crystal Palace game may indicate that they are now more open to selling him, but they will be hoping to get a decent fee for the striker. With Toney’s contract expiring next summer, Brentford knows that they are in a strong position to command a high price for his services.
Toney's Future: What's Next?
It is still too early to say what will happen with Toney. However, it is clear that he is no longer a guaranteed starter for Brentford. The club will likely be open to selling him if they receive a suitable offer, but they will be holding out for a significant fee.
Toney has a number of options available to him, but it remains to be seen which club he will choose. He has the potential to be a star player for many years to come, and he will be hoping to find a club that can help him reach his full potential.
It will be interesting to see how this saga unfolds in the coming weeks. Will Toney stay at Brentford or will he move on to a new challenge? Only time will tell.
