Transfer Centre

Brentford 'demanding £100m to sell Ivan Toney in January'

By Carter White | 01 November 2023

Brentford 'demanding £100m to sell Toney in January'

Brentford are reportedly intending to keep Ivan Toney until the end of the season and will not sell him for less than £100m, despite interest from Arsenal and Chelsea.

Brentford are reportedly not prepared to let striker Ivan Toney leave the club in January for anything less than £100m, with Chelsea and Arsenal interested in the player.

The 27-year-old is currently serving an eight-month ban from football after being found guilty of breaking Football Association betting rules earlier in the year, meaning that he has not featured in the 2023-24 term so far.

Toney enjoyed his most-productive campaign in the Premier League last time out, making the net ripple 20 times in 33 league appearances, falling behind only Erling Haaland and Harry Kane in the Golden Boot Race.

The former Peterborough United marksman has also gained international pedigree over the past 18 months, earning his first-ever England call-up in September 2022.

According to Sky Sports News, Brentford have set their asking price for forward Toney ahead of the upcoming January transfer window, with the Bees only prepared to let the player depart for a huge fee.

Brentford forward Ivan Toney celebrates scoring against Newcastle United on April 8, 2023 © Reuters

The report claims that Thomas Frank's side would only sell the striker if they received a bid of £100m - a similar amount to what Chelsea paid for the likes of Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez earlier in the year.

It is understood that the Brentford hierarchy have found rumours that they would be willing to part company with Toney for around £50m comical, factoring in the number of goals that the 27-year-old bagged in the top flight last season.

Mauricio Pochettino's Blues and Mikel Arteta's Gunners are said to be interested in securing the services of the Englishman, however both of the London-based clubs will be reluctant to pay a nine-figure sum.

It was claimed last month that Arsenal and local rivals Tottenham Hotspur were unwilling to meet Brentford's reported asking price of £61m for Toney, meaning that it is unlikely that either club will fork out £100m for the attacker.

While the Bees have no real intention of selling Toney in the New Year at the end of his ban, it is believed that Frank's men have been highlighting replacements for when the 20-goal striker eventually departs.

Brentford's Ivan Toney celebrates scoring their first goal with teammates on March 15, 2023 © Reuters

Brentford are said to have joined high-flying Aston Villa as potential suitors for former Chelsea striker Tammy Abraham, who has been plying his trade at Italian outfit Roma since the summer of 2021.

The ex-Villa loanee finished the 2021-22 Serie A campaign with 17 goals but only managed eight strikes last season in the league, and the 26-year-old is currently sidelined until next year due to a cruciate ligament injury.

With Toney's ban ending on January 16, the striker will have only a matter of months to impress England boss Gareth Southgate, with the Bees' main man hoping to secure his place on the plane to Euro 2024 as a member of the Three Lions squad.

Brentford struggled in the opening stages of the term without the presence of Toney but recorded back-to-back wins against Burnley and Chelsea most recently - West Ham United are set to visit the Gtech Community Stadium on Saturday afternoon in the Premier League.