Arsenal and Chelsea alerted as Liverpool target lined up as Toney replacement

Tom Weber

• 26 Jan 2024 04:16 CST
• 4 min read

Brentford are lining up Maximilian Beier as a potential Ivan Toney replacement, according to a report.

Though it appears that the Bees sharpshooter, who instantly found the back of the net on his return from his gambling ban, will remain with the club this month, Toney has made no secret of his desire to play for a 'top club.'

A summer move could still be on the cards for the 27-year-old, with the likes of Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham all heavily associated with the Brentford man. Prior to Toney's return, Bryan Mbeumo and his teammates did an adequate job of covering for the striker, but the Bees' lack of a star number nine was evident, leaving them hovering just above the relegation zone.

If Toney were to be sold, a high-profile replacement would need to be brought in. According to BILD's Christian Falk, that replacement could be breakout Hoffenheim star Maximilian Beier, who will be available for around €30 million in the summer due to a release clause.

The youngster recently scored for the first time in months, ending a lengthy drought, but his talent has never been in doubt. Indeed, such has been his rise to prominence this term that Liverpool are said to be hot on his trail, which could prove problematic for Brentford.

Bees want Beier

“There’s still very concrete interest from Brentford in Maximilian Beier," Falk told CaughtOffside. "I heard they asked if he wanted to move in the current window. They were open to spending €30m on him but he doesn’t want to go just yet as he’s aware he’s being watched by many Premier League clubs including Burnley, Everton and Liverpool."

"He wants to see what will happen in the summer. At the moment, the release clause that he has in his contract isn’t active in the winter – just for the summer, at which point it will be €32.5m. Not far away from €30m!"

“Every year he stays at Hoffenheim it goes down by €2.5m, so it’s getting cheaper and Beier knows he has many chances for the next step but he doesn’t want to make it this winter.”