Brentford issue honest Toney message amid Arsenal interest

Brentford boss Thomas Frank has admitted his delight at retaining Ivan Toney this month amid serious transfer interest from Arsenal.

Mikel Arteta’s side were heavily linked with a move for Toney during the January window, but the Gunners opted against pushing hard to sign him despite the fact he has returned to action after serving a nine month football ban.

Toney marked his Premier League return with a free-kick goal against Nottingham Forest, while he also scored during Brentford’s 3-2 loss vs Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday.

Arsenal remain interested in signing the England forward, but any pursuit will now have to wait until this summer.

What has Thomas Frank said about Ivan Toney?

When asked about Toney’s future on Transfer Deadline Day, Frank issued a very honest statement in response. “This will be breaking news, okay – but Ivan will stay,” the Brentford boss said.

“Happy? Yes, but I was pretty sure as I said from the beginning that Ivan will stay with us so I was not worried about that.

“In general, it is nice to know what you are working with so in that situation, yes [I am happy]. I think with any player we have a contract in general so at the end of the day we decide if they leave or not.

“Of course money talks and we also know that we are a ‘selling’ club as you could call it – we know that is part of the strategy. We want to have young, talented players in, develop them and make them better.

“Be on a journey with us, improve and hopefully do some fantastic stuff in the league and maybe one day win something. But at the end of the day, after some years if they are good enough they will progress to the next level.”

Brentford signed Yunus Emre Konak (€4.5m), Hakon Rafn Valdimarsson (€3m) and Sergio Reguilon (loan) during the January transfer window, while Myles Peart-Harris and Charlie Goode departed on loan.

The Bees currently sit 15th in the Premier League table, four points clear of the relegation zone.