Brentford manager Thomas Frank is hopeful that striker Ivan Toney will be able to feature in their upcoming match against Everton on Saturday.
Toney, who has scored 4 goals in 13 appearances since returning from his 8-month gambling ban, has been dealing with a hip injury in recent weeks. The 28-year-old was an unused substitute in Brentford’s 2-0 win against Sheffield United and was even left out of the squad entirely for their crucial 5-1 away victory against Luton Town last weekend.
Despite being 10 points clear of the relegation zone, Brentford could all but confirm their safety with a win against Everton on the weekend. And Frank is hopeful that his star striker will be available for selection.
“[He is] progressing,” Frank said in his pre-match press conference. “I’ve got to hope he is available for Saturday. There is still one more training session, so let’s see.”
The Brentford boss acknowledged Toney’s eagerness to get back on the pitch, stating that the player “just loves to play football” and “hates” missing games. Frank also noted that with the Euros coming up, it’s important for Toney to regain his fitness in order to perform at the highest level.
Overall, Frank seems cautiously optimistic about Toney’s chances of featuring against Everton, but will wait to see how the player progresses in the final training session before making a decision.
While Toney’s short-term availability for Brentford is in question, his long-term future at the club remains uncertain. The club is expected to entertain bids from a number of interested parties for the striker.
Both Arsenal and Chelsea have been linked with the England international, as they look to address their own striker issues. When asked about Toney’s potential transfer value, Brentford manager Thomas Frank stated that there is no set asking price for the player, whose contract expires at the end of next season.
“You should ask Phil Giles [director of football] and Matthew Benham [the club’s owner] about that, but I’m pretty sure the answer will be that there is no [set] price,” Frank said. He explained that a player’s transfer value can fluctuate greatly based on their recent performances, noting that “if you can score five goals in five games, then suddenly your price is through the roof.”
However, Frank acknowledged that Toney has proven himself to be a “good player” who has “performed consistently over time,” suggesting that the club may demand a significant fee for the striker.
“I know Ivan is a good player and he’s proven that many times,” Frank said. “Last season he was fantastic, he got his full England debut and proved he can play with top players.”
With Toney’s contract situation and the interest from Premier League heavyweights, it seems Brentford may face a battle to retain their star striker in the upcoming transfer window.
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