Brentford manager Thomas Frank has revealed that he excluded Ivan Toney from the squad for their match against Crystal Palace due to “transfer interest” in the England forward.
Toney has been linked with moves to Arsenal, Chelsea, and Manchester United this summer. However, reports on Sunday suggested that Saudi Arabian club Al-Ahli has also added him to their transfer shortlist.
With Toney, who was part of the England squad that reached the Euro 2024 final, facing an uncertain future, Frank decided to leave him out of the squad for their Premier League opener against the Eagles on Sunday.
Speaking ahead of the season opener, Frank told Sky Sports: “There’s a lot happening with Ivan, especially regarding transfers. Given the significant interest, we’ve chosen not to include him in the squad.
“I can’t disclose too much the day before the game. Of course, Ivan is an exceptional player; we all know that. He’s been outstanding for us over the past four years, but we proved last season that we can manage without him.”
