Ivan Toney issues transfer update, as Arsenal and Chelsea continue to target England striker
Ivan Toney has spoken about a proposed transfer away from Brentford this summer, as the England star plays at Euro 2024
Ivan Toney has addressed speculation over his future, with Arsenal and Chelsea both reportedly still interested in signing the striker this summer.
In January, Brentford initially demanded a fee of £80m for the England striker, but that price tag has been reduced to £60m ahead of the new season as the Bees look to cash in on the 28-year-old, who has just one year remaining on his contract.
Arsenal and Chelsea are both said to be the sides coveting his signature most heavily, though Toney himself isn't too fazed by the speculation. Speaking ahead of England's final group game against Slovenia at Euro 2024, Toney explained where his focus lies right now.
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"I can’t predict the future and if I could I wouldn’t be sat here in front of you guys, Toney said. "What will be will be and my main focus is playing well and doing well for my country. I’ve been through it (transfer speculation) before.
"There’s been lots of talk of me going here, there and everywhere before in my career and I just don’t let outside noise get to me.
I’m here with England now, and the main focus is doing well for England and whatever happens, happens. I can’t control it. From 18 when I was supposed to go to Wolves I was all excited and getting involved in all of it, then it didn’t happen, it hurt me. So since then, I thought, ‘Why am I trying to take control of things when I don’t need that pressure?’ I just let people who take care of those things to do it and I focus on the pitch."
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It seems like Brentford, though, have different plans with manager Thomas Frank highlighting on BBC while working as a pundit at Euro 2024 that the signing of Igor Thiago from Club Brugge is to prepare for Toney's supposed inevitable departure.
“Of course, we plan and then other things can happen," Frank said. "Maybe we are selling a player but we are prepared for that. It’s no secret that there’s lots of rumours about Ivan. If he is leaving us - and I’d still like to keep him, he’s a top player - this time we are prepared and brought in Igor Thiago.”
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Ryan is a staff writer for FourFourTwo, joining the team full-time in October 2022. He first joined Future in December 2020, working across FourFourTwo, Golf Monthly, Rugby World and Advnture's websites, before eventually earning himself a position with FourFourTwo permanently. After graduating from Cardiff University with a degree in Journalism and Communications, Ryan earned a NCTJ qualification to further develop as a writer while a Trainee News Writer at Future.