Brentford are reportedly preparing for a battle over the future of star striker Ivan Toney when the Premier League transfer window reopens in January 2024.
The 27-year-old was issued issued with an eight-month ban from football in May after he admitted culpability over 232 charges relating to breaches of FA betting rules.
Alongside a £50,000 ($62,000) fine, Toney was barred from even training with Brentford until the halfway point of his ban. The England international is now back at the club to work on his fitness ahead of a January return.
Brentford head coach Frank has admitted the club could consider a sale if Toney pushes for an exit, and their Premier League rivals are considering an approach in the mid-season market.
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Ivan Toney to Arsenal: Latest transfer news
Despite looking set to come back into the Brentford team when his ban expires in January, Frank offered a pragmatic response over Toney's future during a slot on Sky Sports Monday Night Football in September.
Frank stated Brentford are always in a position to potentially sell key players, with David Raya joining Arsenal on a loan-to-buy deal over the summer, and interest Toney is inevitable.
"I think every club in the world are a selling club except for five or six clubs. We are a selling club, if the right price is there," he said.
"He [Toney] scored 20 goals in the Premier League last year, in, of course, a very good Brentford side but of course we are not creating as many chances as the top six or seven teams.
"Imagine him in a top team, he’d easily score 20, 25 goals, for me. I think he's composed, he's a good finisher, top mentality, so I understand why clubs are looking at him."
Frank's comments sent transfer rumours flying over who could make a move for Toney in the coming months, with Premier League rivals Arsenal rumoured to be the early favourites alongside interest from Mauricio Pochettino's Chelsea.
As per reports from the Daily Mirror, Gunners boss Mikel Arteta is a big fan of Toney, and he is considering a dip into the January market despite huge summer squad investment.
Arteta's Premier League title hopes rely heavily on the ability of Gabriel Jesus and Eddie Nketiah to consistently score goals, with Toney outscoring both players in each of the past two seasons.
That ruthlessness in front of goal could tempt Arteta into making a move, with Frank dropping a renewed hint over Toney moving on following his training return.
"For me as a coach, I don't want to sell him. Of course I want my best players. Ivan is a world-class player, so why should we sell a world class player? I want him to play for Brentford for the rest of his contract but that's not up to me to decide," he said.
Ivan Toney transfer value, price tag
The latest rumours claim Brentford will follow the example of Brighton & Hove Albion in demanding a maximum possible fee for their star player, with Toney reportedly valued at £60 million ($72.8 million) by the Bees.
However, his ban will have impacted Brentford's ability to demand such a high fee, with interested parties likely to make opening offers of around £45m ($54.6m).
Frank has previously claimed Toney could be worth as much as £100m ($121m).
Ivan Toney contact
Toney's contract situation at the Gtech Community Stadium will also impact his transfer valuation.
His Brentford deal expires in June 2025, with the January window representing a key juncture to decide his future as his value will start to drop once he enters the final 12 months of his contract.
Ivan Toney Premier League stats, trophies
Toney netted 31 league goals in the 2020/21 season as Brentford secure their first-ever Premier League promotion via the EFL Championship playoffs.
His first campaign in the top flight with the Bees saw him net 12 Premier League goals as Frank's Brentford finished 13th.
Ivan Toney reaches 20 Premier League goals for the season 🐝 pic.twitter.com/eW0CdGDba9
— GOAL (@goal) April 29, 2023
He followed that up with an impressive 20 Premier League goals in 2022/23, bettered only by Harry Kane (30) and Erling Haaland (36) alongside an overall record of nine Premier League penalties scored from 10 attempts.
