Brentford fear that their club-record signing Igor Thiago will miss the first few weeks of the new season after injuring his right knee in a friendly against AFC Wimbledon last Saturday — which could have implications for Ivan Toney’s future in west London.
Thiago started the game and scored twice as Thomas Frank’s side won 5-2. The 23-year-old striker came off at half-time as planned but felt discomfort around the meniscus in his right knee afterwards.
Thiago had a scan earlier this week but still travelled to Lisbon for Brentford’s pre-season tour. They are due to face Benfica on Thursday evening and play a behind-closed-doors friendly against Estrela da Amadora on July 30. Thiago will not take part in either fixture and has been undergoing physiotherapy.
The forward will have another scan on his knee at the beginning of next week which will determine whether he requires an operation and if he will miss the start of the 2024-25 campaign. Thiago has only just returned to full fitness after suffering a medial ligament injury in his right knee in May. He was injured when Antonio Nusa, his then team-mate at Club Bruges, clattered into him during a game.
Toney played three times for England as they reached the final of the European Championship (Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/2024 AMA Sports Photo Agency)
Brentford announced the signing of Thiago from Belgian side Bruges in February in a deal worth €36.5million. He is viewed as the successor to Toney which means his injury could impact the England international’s future. The 28-year-old wants to leave this summer and has only a year left on his contract. If Thiago is ruled out for a significant period of time, Brentford may look to hold onto Toney, who has scored 72 times in 141 appearances since he joined them from Peterborough United for £5m in August 2020.
What is the latest on Toney’s transfer status?
From Adam Leventhal in the latest edition of The Athletic’s DealSheet
Rather than leave on a free transfer in 11 months, Brentford would prefer to sell Toney this summer for what they regard as fair market value.
Last summer, Toney would have been worth between £80million and £100million ($103.4m and $129.2m) — but his long-term betting ban and injury have changed that. Sources at his club value him at more than £50m, depending on interest from elsewhere.
Brentford do not need to sell Toney. The England international has spoken about wanting a move to a “top club, competing for trophies”, but there have not been any discussions around him on a club-to-club basis.
Toney staying would benefit Thiago, who was signed in February as part of the succession planning. Having the incumbent first-choice striker in the squad would help limit the pressure on Thiago, a player with no Premier League experience. Despite that, Brentford would be happy to rely on Thiago.
Despite the lack of formal interest, Toney is one to watch. Selling him makes sense on a club level, while sources, who remain anonymous to protect relationships, close to the player also regard this as a possible calm before the storm. If one club moves, expect others — Manchester United have discussed a move for him internally — to join the race before long.
(Christopher Lee/Getty Images)
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