Brentford manager Thomas Frank says he has accepted the likely departure of star striker Ivan Toney at the end of the season. 
Toney (27) has been linked with moves to Arsenal and Chelsea. The striker will have a year left on his contract when the season ends.
Having missed eight-months of football following a ban for breaking Football Association betting rules, Toney scored on his return to action in January.
“It is relatively obvious that Ivan Toney will probably be sold this summer.
“It can be ‘expensive’ to sell your best player, but conversely I also know that this summer he only has one year left on his contract with us
“We also know what he is worth. I don’t think there are many strikers in the world who are better than him right now,” said Frank in an interview with Danish sports magazine Tipsbladet.
Toney had been serving suspension since May 2023 for breaching gambling regulations, including betting against his own team.
Toney’s contentious free-kick in Brentford 3-1 win over Nottingham Forest was his first goal of the season. He doubled his account in the following match, a 3-2 loss against Tottenham Hotspurs.
The England International admitted in January that he wants to play for a big club.
However, Frank said the club had not received any offers for the striker in the January window.
“This winter we actually had no offers for him, but it will surprise me if there aren’t a lot of clubs that will be interested in him,” said Frank.
“He is a really skilled striker who is in his prime football age. Personally, as a coach, I would prefer to keep Toney, but one day it could be fun to see him on a top team.”
The Bees are languishing in 15th place in the Premier League, three points above the relegation zone.
Share.