Brentford firm on Toney transfer fee - despite no takers in Premier League
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Al Ahli, a team in the Saudi Pro League, is the only club at the moment willing to pay the £60m that Brentford is asking for Ivan Toney. This transfer situation could potentially drag on until the last days of the transfer window.
The striker was not included in the team's first game of the season, which they won 2-1 against Crystal Palace at home. The lack of clarity surrounding his future was given as the explanation for his absence.
This news came as a shock to some industry experts and those involved in the discussions, as no immediate transfer is expected. Toney is still deciding on his next move. While Chelsea and Manchester United are still interested, they are hesitant to pay £60m for a player with only one year left on his contract. Both clubs have discussed potential deals internally, but as mentioned in a recent article by the Independent, it is likely that any agreement would involve a loan with a mandatory purchase option or a different arrangement rather than a straight payment of £60m upfront.
It is rumored that Arsenal is no longer keen on pursuing the forward, as Mikel Arteta has decided to halt any interest before Euro 2024.
Meanwhile, Brentford have not been budging on their asking price, but as the transfer window nears its end, their position may weaken.
Al Ahli have shown interest in signing Toney, as the Saudi Pro League transfer market has been calmer this year with limited spots available for international players.
"There are a lot of things happening with Ivan, with all the rumors and transfers going on. Because of that, we made the decision not to include him in the squad," explained Thomas Frank after not selecting Toney on Saturday.
The decision was made by both the club and me on Thursday. We believed it was the right choice. Ivan is always eager to participate and play.
Brentford acquired Fabio Carvalho from Liverpool at the beginning of the summer and also brought in Igor Thiago for approximately £57m to strengthen the Bees' forward line.
