Ivan Toney has been further linked with a move away from Brentford this summer, with plenty of interest surrounding him. It appears that Thomas Frank is preparing for the worst.
Ivan Toney Looks Certain for Brentford Exit
‘Things Are Happening’
Toney did not feature in Brentford’s matchday squad as they defeated Crystal Palace in their first fixture of the 2024/25 Premier League season. Frank revealed that the reasoning for this is linked to the constant ongoing transfer saga of the striker’s departure.
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He explained: “Things are happening…so we decided not to include him in the squad”. Interestingly, this suggests that the Englishman was available but the club decided against using him. Continuing, he disclosed: “There’s interest…nothing’s closed yet”. This seems a subtle hint to Al Ahli’s interest following a £35 million rejected bid. They are still waiting for the player’s decision, but he is the number one target and they remain in talks.
Where Does an Ivan Toney Departure Leave Brentford?
Brentford performed admirably well in a 2-1 win over a strong Crystal Palace side in their season opener. They generated an impressive 1.59 expected goals, more than Palace’s 1.17. With two big chances missed, it was not just a story of clinical finishing.
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The goalscorers highlighted why Bees fans should not be too anxious about Toney’s departure. Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa both found the back of the net, showing that in the finishing department, Brentford are not lacking. These two helped to tide Frank’s side over for the first six months of last season when their main man was suspended.
They managed a combined 21 goals and nine assists, helping them stay up by a significant 13 points. It seems that they should be okay for this season without the ex-Arsenal target, though they would struggle to push for a top-half finish.
