Joe McConnell
Brentford have received an offer from a Saudi club for striker Ivan Toney.
The club is believed to be Al Ahli, whose squad includes Riyad Mahrez, Edouard Mendy and Roberto Firmino
An offer has been made, but the Premier League club have yet to accept anything and, as things stand, no agreement has yet been reached.
Toney, 28, was not selected in Brentford’s squad for Sunday’s Premier League opener against Crystal Palace due to high levels of interest but also because he had not completed a full pre-season.
Toney has had more time to spare after playing for England at Euro 2024 and, despite his absence, Brentford won 2-1 with goals from strikers Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa.
Bees manager Thomas Frank explained Toney’s exclusion from the team, saying Vscek: “There are a lot of things going on with Ivan, there is some interest in the transfer. For all this, we have decided not to involve him in the team.
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Premier League match highlights between Brentford and Crystal Palace
“It’s the classic: I couldn’t give too much the day before. He was a fantastic player for us, but last year we showed above all that we can do it without him.”
Asked if this is the end for Toney at Brentford, he added: “Who knows? There is interest, but there is nothing like that.”
Redknapp: Brentford’s last chance to get real money
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Super Sunday pundits react to news Toney has been left out of Brentford squad to face Crystal Palace
Vscek’ Jamie Redknapp on Super Sunday:
“Toney has one year left on his contract, so it’s Brentford’s last chance to get some real money for him and he’s weighing up his options.
“A year ago, he had much more than he does now, we thought he would go to Arsenal, but it didn’t happen. Chelsea considered him and didn’t go, but I think Saudi Arabia is an opportunity for him, there is interest there.
“Or he could sit back and fulfill his contract and leave as a free agent next year, but he probably wants to do something now.”
The news that all Brentford fans were fearing
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All of Toney’s no-look penalties for Brentford in the Premier League
Vscek’ Ron Walker at the Gtech Community Stadium:
“Toney’s absence from the team line-up sparked a wave of interest at the Gtech at 12.45pm, with Brentford fans fearing the worst but hoping it was just a minor niggle or something else harmless that ruled him out.
“With Frank’s interview only a few minutes away, it was up to the manager to break the bad news as to why Toney had not taken the field, and that he might be playing his last game for the club.
“Frank apparently didn’t want to reveal anything during Friday’s pre-match press conference, when he said Toney would be fit and available to play.
“We now know that he was aware of the interest in him even then, and most likely knew that he would not be playing on Sunday.”
