England forward and Brentford star Ivan Toney is edging close to leaving the Premier League this summer.
He was dropped from Brentford’s 2024-25 opening Premier League match against Crystal Palace. Reports from Brentford camp ahead of the match reveal the player has been dropped out of the team.
Brentford head coach Thomas Frank reveals why Toney was dropped from the squad
Speaking ahead of the match against Crystal Palace, Brentford head coach Thomas Frank confirmed Ivan Toney will not be in action for the Bees. On why the player has been dropped from the squad, the English gaffer said it is because of the uncertainties that have been surrounding the future of the player.
”A lot of things are going on with Ivan. There is some transfer interest and so we decided not to involve him in the squad.”
Thomas Frank went on to confirm some clubs are interested in signing the player. However, he kept his audience in the dark when probed further.
“I can’t give too much away… There is interest, but a deal is not closed.”
Ivan Toney transfer saga
Ivan Toney’s future at Brentford has been uncertain since last summer. The English forward was a transfer hotshot, dominating the rumor mills. 2022-23 and 2023-24 Premier League runners-up Arsenal led the list of clubs who were interested in the player.
Another London club Chelsea were strongly linked to the 28-year-old. Some reports claim the player was close to leaving Brentford before his betting scandal and eight-month ban put things on a halt.
With the ongoing 2024-25 transfer window set to be wrapped up soon, Toney is closer to leaving Brentford than staying.
Interested clubs and transfer value
Toney may likely take his career away from the shores of England and, by extension, away from Europe. According to The Mail, Saudi club Al-Ahli are leading the race for Toney. The Saudi outfit are hopeful of boasting their attacking arsenal ahead of the 2024-25 Saudi Pro League campaign with the addition of Toney to their options.
A deal by the Saudi with Brentford for Toney will see the player link up with former Premier League and Liverpool forward, Roberto Firmino. Firmino joined Al-Ahli last summer on a three-year contract due to a lack of game time with Liverpool.
Former Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy and former Manchester City winger Riyad Mahrez are also plying their trade with the Saudi outfit.
Brentford is open to Ivan Toney’s exit and have slammed a £60m price tag on the player. It is yet unclear whether Al-Ahli will fork out the asking price for the player. Meanwhile, sources close to the club have revealed they want to offer Toney a three-year contract.
Ivan Toney betting scandals
The English FA charged Ivan Toney in November 2022 for 232 breaches of gambling laws. In December 2022, he was slammed with a further 30 breaches. Toney admitted to the offenses and was slammed with an eight-month ban in May 2023 with a £50,000 fine.
The English FA originally wanted Ivan Toney to be banned for 15 months. The Regulatory Commission reduced it to 11 months when he admitted to the offenses and then to 8 months after he was diagnosed with gambling addiction.
After the expiration of his ban, Toney made a roaring return to action, scoring the winner in Brentford’s 3-2 victory over Nottingham Forest in January 2022.
Toney joined Brentford from Peterborough in 2020, signing a five-year contract. He has been an integral part of the team, leading the club’s attack.
