Brentford director opens up on Toney future amid Chelsea and Arsenal interest

Jacque Talbot

• Updated: 29 Mar 2024 20:33 GMT
• 4 min read

Brentford technical director Lee Dykes has opened up about the saga involving Ivan Toney and his possible departure from Brentford in the summer.

Speaking to the United Stand, the executive spilled the beans on what lies in the England international's future.

Toney has been linked with moves to Arsenal and Chelsea - but it's not clear where he will end up and if any club will be willing to meet the Bees' asking price of £100 million.

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Dykes told the publication: “Well, we've got to be honest and be open and honest with ourselves like we were last summer with David Raya We signed players and we're honest with them and they're honest with us that maybe the time may come for them to go on to bigger and better levels than ourselves.

"Ivan [Toney] is in a similar situation to what David [Raya] was in. He’s got aspirations to go and play at a higher level, which is fine, but it’s got to be on Brentford's terms, obviously, and we've got to do it as a recruitment department and it's particularly my role, I've just got to be ready to know that there may be a situation where we're looking to bring somebody in if Ivan leaves the club, but there's also a situation where Ivan stays at the club and that's what we all want.

"We want Ivan to stay at the club and play Premier League football for Brentford for years to come. But what a fantastic story. You know, we signed him from the third tier of English football and he's now in the England team and hopefully he gets a few appearances over the next couple of months and helps us as a nation go get that elusive trophy.”

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'Toney can play for any club in the world'

Dykes was full of praise about Toney's ability, too - saying that the former Newcastle man could play at the elite level at any club in the world and be a success.

Dykes continued: “I think Ivan can go and play for any club in the world, I really do. I think he's a, top, top talent. And I think that obviously I have the ability of having worked with Ivan and all the people at Brentford about that luxury. But, you know, when you watch Ivan's game, he's an ability in his own right. But also he makes every player that he plays with better.

"And, you know, I think every club wants somebody to come in and raise the levels of even your existing players. And I think he could do that. Any club in the world and whoever does take him, will be very lucky to have him. That is If he obviously leaves Brentford one day, but hopefully he’ll stay almost for a short period for time to come.”