16 March 2024 , 12:44
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Ivan Toney has been slammed by fans online after the Brentford striker joked about a potential summer transfer to Spain during a media interview.
The Bees talisman, 28, is widely regarded as one of the Premier League's top strikers and has been linked with a move to one of England's elite for months. Toney has just returned from an eight-month ban after breaching betting rules and will see out the season at the Gtech Community Stadium despite speculation linking him with a move to Arsenal in the January transfer window.
Toney, who has just been recalled to the England squad, will enter the final 12 months of his contract in the summer. It's anticipated that Brentford will opt to cash in on their prize striker rather than lose him for nothing in the summer of 2025.
His latest comments on a move have caused a stir online, though. During an interview with Sky Sports, Toney was asked to describe his perfect end to the season and said: "We start winning games; we win every game for the rest of the season. I've scored 20 goals [laughs]. I think there's nine games left maybe, so we've kept nine clean sheets. Job's a good'un."
When he was then asked the same question relating to the summer before being pressed on a potential transfer. He quipped: "I'm in the mix for the Euros and then we win the Euros. Let things fall into the place. If Brentford were to sell me, they'd make their money, I move to Madrid and it's all good."
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Toney's comments, which come on the morning of a match against Nottingham Forest which is likely to be influential in deciding whether or not Brentford retain their top-flight status, have not gone down well online. One Bees fan posted: "Biggest game of our season and this is coming out. Guess it was too much to expect him just to keep quiet for 5 months and focus on his job."
Another branded Toney's comments "disgusting", while a different person chastised Toney's attitude towards Brentford, adding: "I really despise this man’s attitude. No respect for that club."
Join the debate! Where do you think Toney will end up? Let us know here.
Brentford boss Thomas Frank has already admitted it's likely Toney will leave at the end of the season (Getty Images)Toney has made no secret of his desire to play for a top club. Back in January, he told Sky Sports in a separate interview: "You can never predict when is the right time to move elsewhere, but I think it's obvious I want to play for a top club. Everybody wants to play for a top club, that is fighting for titles.
"Whether it's this January that is the right time for a club to come in and pay the right money, who knows? But my main focus is to do what I do on the pitch, and let the background work take care of itself.
"To be the best, you have to play with the best and compete against the best. We all know Harry Kane is one of the best strikers in the world and he's been doing it for some years now. If I want to be England's No 1, then I have to compete against him.
"He's not a bad striker to be taking tips off and be training with. I just have to keep scoring goals, keep playing well and then who knows what could happen? If I just fall short, then hopefully I can become the second best in the world."
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