Brentford is preparing for a surge in interest from Premier League clubs as they anticipate bids for Ivan Toney in the upcoming January transfer window. The English striker, aged 27, will have completed an eight-month ban for breaching gambling rules by the time the transfer window opens. Several top English clubs have identified Toney as a target once his suspension concludes on January 16.
Toney, who earned his first cap for the England national team in March, is in the process of switching agents. He is set to sign with Stellar, a world-renowned agency that played a role in high-profile transfers like Jack Grealish’s move to Manchester City and Gareth Bale’s record-breaking transfer to Real Madrid. Sources close to Toney believe that he possesses the potential to perform at a top-six Premier League club. The player himself had initially been expected to leave Brentford in the summer prior to his ban in May.
Brentford’s Resignation to Toney’s Departure and Valuation
Despite Brentford’s understanding that Ivan Toney is likely to depart in the next year, the club values the striker significantly. Toney’s contract with Brentford is set to expire in 2025, and the club places an £80 million price tag on the player. The anticipated interest from multiple clubs, including Arsenal, underscores Toney’s reputation as a valuable asset in the Premier League market.
Arsenal, having already invested £200 million in summer recruits, including the acquisition of goalkeeper David Raya from Brentford, is among the parties interested in Toney. Despite being a lifelong Liverpool fan, Toney has expressed his admiration for Arsenal in a recent interview on the Diary of a CEO podcast. The striker’s 20 league goals in the previous season further solidify his appeal to top-flight clubs.
Toney’s Suspension, Manager’s Reluctance, and Tottenham Hotspur’s Interest
In May, Ivan Toney received an eight-month ban and a £50,000 fine from the Football Association (FA) after admitting to 232 breaches of the FA’s betting regulations spanning from 2017 to 2021. The FA’s regulatory commission identified Toney’s gambling addiction and concluded that he required assistance. This suspension prevented him from training with Brentford; however, he will be eligible to rejoin Thomas Frank’s squad in September, having served half of his ban.
Brentford’s head coach, Thomas Frank, is keen on retaining Toney, given the striker’s substantial contributions to the club’s performance. Since his move from Peterborough United in 2020 for an initial fee of £6.5 million, Toney has scored 68 goals and provided 21 assists in 124 appearances. Tottenham Hotspur has also emerged as a potential suitor for Toney, with the club linked to a move after the departure of Harry Kane to Bayern Munich for £94.5 million earlier in the summer.
