Ivan Toney Left Out Amid Transfer Speculation

In a surprising move, Brentford manager Thomas Frank announced that star striker Ivan Toney will not be part of the squad for their season opener. This decision comes as Toney has been the subject of intense transfer interest.

The 28-year-old Toney, whose contract with Brentford is entering its final year, has openly expressed his desire to leave the club. Teams like Arsenal, Chelsea, and Saudi Pro League side Al-Ahli have all shown interest in acquiring him.

Although Frank confirmed that a transfer is “not close,” he felt it was best to keep Toney out of the match, stating, “A lot of things are going on with Ivan, especially with transfers.” He acknowledged Toney’s talent, saying the striker has been fantastic for Brentford over the past four years.

Frank elaborated, “We showed last season we can cope without him,” indicating the team’s confidence in moving forward without their star player for now.

Complicating things further, Toney had trained well and was expected to play but was ultimately excluded from the game due to the swirling transfer discussions. Brentford had hoped to sell Toney this summer instead of letting him go for free next summer.

Meanwhile, across the pitch, Crystal Palace captain Marc Guéhi started against Brentford despite Newcastle‘s attempts to sign him, showing that transfer rumors are swirling elsewhere too. Palace has rejected a £65 million bid from Newcastle, indicating their desire to keep the talented defender.

Palace chairman Steve Parish noted, “We’re always very respectful when we get a bid for a player,” highlighting the complex nature of transfer negotiations.

Additionally, Parish hinted that a loan move for Wilfried Zaha may not happen due to tax issues, despite his eagerness to see Zaha return to the club.