10 February 2024 , 23:02
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Ivan Toney stressed that he can't "make clubs come and get him" after Brentford boss Thomas Frank admitted he is likely to leave this summer.
The Bees striker, 27, has missed the majority of the 2023/24 campaign after serving a ban for breaching betting regulations but was still heavily linked with a move in the January transfer window amid interest from Arsenal.
Toney, who has plundered three goals in four matches since his return to action, will have just 12 months remaining on his contract in the summer and Frank confirmed earlier this week that he would probably be sold at the end of the season.
In an interview with Danish magazine Tipsbladet, it was claimed that Frank had conceded: "It’s quite obvious that Ivan Toney will most likely be sold in the summer. It can be expensive to sell your best player but on the other hand, I also know that by the summer, he’ll only have a year left on his contract with us."
Of course, the Bees boss wants to keep his talisman. But Toney was asked for his reaction to Frank's comments after scoring in Brentford's 2-0 win over Wolves on Saturday and quipped: "I see that [Frank's comments] as he doesn't want me!
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"The manager has said what he's said but I can't make clubs come and get me. I've just got to keep doing what I do and that's score goals. What will be will be."
Although Arsenal are long-term admirers of Toney, the Gunners were unable to add to their squad in the winter transfer window as a result of their Financial Fair Play commitments.
Join the debate! Where do you think Toney will end up in the summer? Let us know here.
Thomas Frank admitted it was likely that Toney would be sold in the summer (Getty Images)It's expected that Mikel Arteta's side will rekindle their interest in Toney in the summer, but other Premier League clubs - including Chelsea and Tottenham - could hijack any potential move. A deal for the sought after striker is unlikely to be cheap, however, with Frank also stressing that Brentford know exactly what their star man is worth.
The Bees boss added: “We know what he’s worth. I don’t think there are many strikers in the world who are better than him right now. He’s a really good striker who is in his prime footballing age. Personally, as a coach, I would prefer to keep Toney, but one day it could be fun to see him at a top team. This winter, we actually had no bids for him, but it would surprise me if there aren’t a lot of clubs interested in him.”
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