Brentford set £50m price tag for Ivan Toney amid Saudi pursuit

Brentford’s star striker Ivan Toney is at the centre of transfer speculation with Saudi Pro League side Al-Ahli expressing interest.

The West London club has set a minimum price of £50 million for Toney despite Al-Ahli’s valuation being much lower at around £35 million. As of now, no formal offer has been submitted by the Saudi club.

Ivan Toney future in Limbo as transfer talks intensify

Toney who was notably absent from Brentford’s squad in their Premier League opener against Crystal Palace is reportedly eager to leave the club.

Head coach Thomas Frank confirmed that Toney was left out of the squad due to the ongoing transfer speculation. “Ivan always wants to play,” Frank told Sky Sports. “But with everything going on, we decided not to include him in the squad.”

Brentford initially valued Toney at £70 million earlier in the summer but has since reduced their expectations to between £50 million and £60 million after a lack of serious interest from other clubs. The striker’s contract expires next summer and Brentford are looking to cash in now to avoid losing him on a free transfer.

Toney who has been a key figure for Brentford since joining from Peterborough in 2020 has scored 72 goals in 141 games for the club.

However, his time at Brentford has not been without controversy, as he was banned for the majority of last season due to betting offences. Despite this, Brentford stood by their star player, but they are now resigned to the possibility of losing him.

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Could Premier League clubs reignite their interest?

While Al-Ahli is the only club to have shown concrete interest, Toney is also on the radar of several Premier League giants.

Earlier in the transfer window, Chelsea, Arsenal, and Manchester United were linked with the 28-year-old but Brentford’s high asking price has so far deterred any serious bids.

Al-Ahli who have already signed Premier League stars like Riyad Mahrez, Roberto Firmino, and Edouard Mendy, are expected to return with an improved offer for Toney.

The Saudi club has the financial muscle to meet Brentford’s demands and are reportedly willing to offer Toney a lucrative package, including a yearly salary of €20 million (£17 million).

As the transfer window draws to a close, Brentford will be keen to resolve Toney’s future. While they have shown they can cope without him, his departure would still be a significant loss for the club.

Whether Toney ends up in Saudi Arabia or remains in the Premier League, his future remains one of the most intriguing storylines of this transfer window.