Ivan Toney puts himself in the shop window — front and centre

Last week, Brentford introduced the signing of Brazilian striker Igor Thiago from Club Brugge, with the 22-year-old set to hitch the Bees in July. Almost instantly, the hearsay mill, which churns consistently, went into overdrive. The hypothesis over the way forward for Ivan Toney, in the information for the finest a part of a 12 months, grew much more frenzied. 

Brentford supervisor Thomas Frank’s phrases describing his new signing had been most instructive: “I’m very happy that we’ve got been proactive,” he mentioned. “Thiago is a really thrilling striker who suits the position in our staff. He is hard-working and an excellent urgent participant. He can be a bodily presence, superb in the field and can hyperlink the play.”

The place of affairs

The itemizing of Thiago’s qualities described Toney’s profile — additional proof, for many who sought it, that Brentford was getting ready for all times with out its talisman subsequent season. With Toney being the topic of curiosity from the likes of Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United, Newcastle and Tottenham Hotspur, the chance of a switch this summer time is especially robust. 

Toney, who returned in January from an eight-month ban for breaching FA playing guidelines, is out of contract at the finish of subsequent time period — so it’s hardly shocking that Brentford might be eager to money in on its highest-value asset if it can’t persuade the frontman to signal a brand new contract. The value of dropping a participant of such calibre on a free switch is crushingly excessive.

Moreover, Frank was quoted by {a magazine} in his native Denmark saying Toney is more likely to be offered in the shut season — however the Brentford supervisor has since clarified that the translation of his feedback could not have been totally correct. Saying he would “love Toney to remain forever”, Frank did, nonetheless, admit that “the actuality is he’s bought another 12 months left on his contract in the summer time. I believe he’s been fairly open about taking part in for a prime membership in the future.”

When requested about his manager’s feedback, Toney joked: “I see that as he doesn’t need me! The supervisor has mentioned what he’s mentioned however I can’t make golf equipment come and get me. I’ve simply bought to maintain doing what I do and that’s rating objectives. What might be might be.”

Toney has actually been bagging objectives, exhibiting little signal of rustiness on his return. When he scored in the 4-1 defeat to Liverpool, it was his fourth objective in 5 video games. 

This features a objective 19 minutes into his comeback on January 20 in opposition to Nottingham Forest — a freekick in which he moved the ball and the referee’s foam after the wall had been shaped, with out the referee noticing, and curled it into the internet.

Made for prime time

The response to the objective was divided — some felt it was sharp observe, others asserted it was what winners do — however there was no dispute over the sense that this was prime-time Toney. The 27-year-old relishes the massive stage and the shiny lights. “I manifest issues like this,” Toney mentioned on NBC. “Most of them go in the stands and the automotive park, however this one went in.”

It’s not tough to see why Toney is in such excessive demand. He was the third-highest scorer in the Premier League final season — his second full season in the top-flight — together with his 20 objectives from 33 appearances bettered solely by Erling Haaland and Harry Kane. 

What’s extra, he typically finds a means of influencing video games even when he doesn’t rating. In the 3-1 defeat in opposition to Manchester City earlier this month, Toney performed an important half in Neal Maupay’s objective. His bodily presence and menace occupied and disturbed two defenders, permitting ’keeper Mark Flekken’s goal-kick proper by and into the path of Maupay.

“He is an distinctive participant, he’s a rare participant,” mentioned City supervisor Pep Guardiola, who suffered at Toney’s arms final season when Brentford accomplished a rare double over the Sky Blues. “He is so harmful. He’s a grasp [at] us[ing] his physique for the second ball, good ending, you possibly can hyperlink with him — he’s one among the finest I’ve ever seen [at that].”

Toney’s mentality makes him an particularly engaging proposition for the prime golf equipment. A giant character, he appears to thrive when the stakes are excessive.

Talking about his comeback in January with Brentford’s official web site, Toney mentioned he felt no nerves. “Nope, it was simply pleasure. I simply wished the whistle to go and to be concerned. That was my time to shine. I used to be all the time going to come back again stronger — that’s simply the mentality I’ve. I need[ed] to be a unique animal once I got here again. It’s going to be horrifying.”

Mental energy

This self-discipline was evident in how he dealt together with his ban for breaching the FA’s betting guidelines after he was recognized with a playing habit. “The largest punishment [is] to overlook out on a World Cup — everyone’s dream — it’s greater than lacking eight months of soccer,” Toney informed Kick Game YouTube channel. “I don’t need anybody to really feel sorry for me. I carried out what I carried out earlier than, the punishment is the punishment.”

English dream: Having missed out on the World Cup, Toney is decided to discover a place in the England aspect for the Euros this summer time. | Photo credit score: Getty Images

Toney is decided to discover a place in the England aspect for the Euros this summer time — Frank has advocated Toney’s case, saying “I do know what Ivan can convey, and I believe it’s one thing completely different England don’t have”. 

But regardless of whom Gareth Southgate picks as Kane’s understudy — the England supervisor is keeping track of the likes of Ollie Watkins, Callum Wilson and Eddie Nketiah — there may be higher curiosity about the place Toney will discover himself following the Euros. With a number of prime strikers anticipated to be on the market this summer time, Victor Osimhen the different massive identify Premier League golf equipment are chasing, it could possibly be a case of how the dominoes fall.

“You can by no means predict when is the proper time to maneuver elsewhere, however I believe it’s apparent I wish to play for a prime membership,” Toney informed Sky Sports. “Everybody needs to play for a prime membership that’s combating for titles. To be the finest, it’s important to play with the finest and compete in opposition to the finest.”

Frank, too, doesn’t know the place Toney will find yourself — and, maybe extra pertinently for the Bees boss, for the way a lot. But he’s sure of 1 factor. “We know what he’s value. I don’t assume there are a lot of strikers in the world who’re higher than him proper now,” mentioned Frank. “Who is aware of what’s going to occur in the summer time? What Ivan is superb at is being in the second — proper now, right here, prepared. That’s what he’s specializing in.”