England striker Ivan Toney was notably absent from Brentford’s lineup for their match against Crystal Palace, sparking speculation that he could be on the move during the transfer window. Brentford manager Thomas Frank suggested in an interview with Sky Sports that Toney’s absence was related to potential transfer activities surrounding the forward.
Toney faced a significant portion of last season on the sidelines due to an eight-month suspension for breaching betting regulations. Despite this setback, he has attracted interest from various top-tier Premier League clubs during the current transfer window.
Frank acknowledged the transfer speculations surrounding Toney, stating, “There’s some transfer interest. Because of all that we’ve decided not to involve him in the squad.” Frank praised Toney’s abilities, recognizing his contributions to the team over the years but also emphasized the squad’s capacity to perform well in his absence, citing examples from the previous season.
In contrast, defender Marc Guehi featured in the starting lineup for Crystal Palace, despite rumors of Newcastle United expressing interest in acquiring the services of the English international. Guehi’s inclusion in the starting XI suggests that Palace values his contributions to the team, amidst potential transfer negotiations involving the player.