How Toney never had a chance of Arsenal or Chelsea transfer

Karan Tejwani

• 17 Sep 2022 09:55 CDT
• 3 min read

Ivan Toney has been in great form as of late and started the season well for Brentford, with several links for a move to a top Premier League club in one of the next transfer windows.

The forward recently received his first call-up for the England national team, becoming the first Brentford player to receive such an honour since 1939, adding more to his value for the club.

Toney signed for Brentford from Peterborough back in 2020 for a £5 million fee and has scored 52 goals in 96 appearances, 17 of which have come in the Premier League.

And over the last summer, there has been interest in him from the likes of Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea, but a move never materialized as no club has launched a serious offer.

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Leaving Brentford wasn't an option

Now, it’s emerged that no club really had a chance to sign Toney over the summer as Brentford were firm on their stance of not selling their star forward.

According to Phil Giles, the club’s Director of Football, the Bees were keen on keeping hold of Toney for the 2022-23 season and retain their status as a Premier League club, having done well in the last campaign.

“We didn’t have to worry,” Giles said to iNews. “I never worry about getting interest in players or players leaving, it’s when you don’t have interest in players that you worry because then they’re not good enough!”

“We didn’t have a thought about selling him or any of our top players this summer. We wanted to keep it together and build on it. I’m not sure how we replace Ivan, his level is so good. There was never a doubt.”

Toney is still of interest to the likes of Chelsea and Arsenal, but will have to fork out a big fee – probably upwards of £50 million according to some reports – which is a massive profit on the fee Brentford spent on him.

So far this season, Toney has scored five goals in six league appearances, including a hat-trick against Leeds United, and will be accompanying Tammy Abraham and Harry Kane as England’s three forward options next month.

A place in England’s World Cup squad can be assured if Toney keeps up this form, and judging by how he’s started the campaign, there is a very real possibility of a place on the plane to Qatar this winter.