Brentford sporting director Lee Dykes has stated that it will take a big transfer fee to convince the club to part ways with rumoured Tottenham target Ivan Toney.
Even though Toney has not kicked a ball since being hit with a ban in May for breaching the FA’s betting rules (the ban runs out next month), his stock remains quite high.
That is perhaps partly down to the lack of top-quality number nines, with the 27-year-old proving himself to be a reliable goalscorer in the Premier League in his two seasons since Brentford’s promotion.
The speculation linking Toney with a move to Spurs shows no signs of slowing down, with The Daily Mirror reporting just last week that Ange Postecogolou is optimistic about bringing a striker through the door next month and that the Lilywhites are set to battle Arsenal and Chelsea for the England international.
Toney will be expensive
Dykes has now admitted that the Bees expect plenty of interest in their star man in January, but he made it clear that the player will not come cheap.
When asked about the speculation over Toney’s future, the Brentford director told their official website: “There should be interest, and maybe the time comes very shortly that Ivan moves on to another club.
“But they will have to pay a decent transfer fee to acquire his services because he is some talent. I am so excited for Ivan to come back because I see him out there in training and he is some player; it looks like he’s never been away.”
“There’s a real ambition from him and I can see in his eyes that he’s going to be better than he’s ever been; I really believe that will be the case. Yes, there will be lots of interest in Ivan in January. Naturally, there should be.
“He was the third-highest Premier League goalscorer last season – one of them [Harry Kane] has gone to Germany now, so he’s up there as one of the best strikers in the division. He is in the top five in the world, in my opinion.”
Spurs Web Opinion
It is clear from Dykes’ statement that Brentford are open to selling Toney next month for the right price, perhaps because the striker is not too keen on signing a new contract.
However, it would likely take a big upwards of £70 for the 27-year-old, which I cannot see Tottenham paying. The only potential big-money move I can see Spurs making next month is for Conor Gallagher, with Chelsea now seemingly open to cashing in on the midfielder.
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