- Thomas Frank was a guest during Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football broadcast
- During the show he revealed that striker Ivan Toney could be sold for ‘the right price’
- Listen to the latest episode of the Mail Sport podcast It all starts!
Brentford boss Thomas Frank has admitted that Ivan Toney could be sold for ‘the right price’ in the near future.
Toney is currently serving an eight-month FA ban for breaching gambling rules, but resumed training with his Brentford teammates this week as restrictions eased.
Despite his lengthy ban, a number of Premier League clubs including Man United, Chelsea and Tottenham have been linked with a move for the striker in January.
With 20 goals and four assists during last season, Bees boss Frank admitted he understands why a number of top teams are interested in Toney.
“So far we’ve only sold one in the Premier League, that was David Raya – or that’s a loan, but that’ll probably be a sale in the future I think,” Frank said on Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football .
Thomas Frank (L) admitted that Ivan Toney (R) could be sold for ‘the right price’ in the future
The Bees star is currently serving an eight-month FA ban for breaching gambling rules
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‘I think every club in the world is a selling club, except five or six clubs. We are a selling club, if the right price is there.
“I think if it is the right time for the player to leave, from my perspective it is not my decision that ultimately it would be Phil (Giles, director of football) or Matthew (Benham, Brentford’s owner). have developed well with us, have been on a journey and now that they have proven to be good enough to go to the top clubs, then I think this is the right choice, if it is the right price.’
When Frank was asked if that also applied to Toney, who is arguably their best player, the Brentford boss said: ‘Yes, I think so. I understand why there are a lot of rumors about him.
‘For me he is one of the best strikers, as striker number 9 I don’t see many people better in the world than him. Of course you have (Harry) Kane, (Robert) Lewandowski, (Erling) Haaland and these types of guys, but not many.
‘Last year he scored 20 goals in the Premier League, obviously in a very good Brentford team, but of course we don’t create as many chances as the top six or seven teams.
‘Imagine him in a top team, he would easily score 20 to 25 goals for me. I think he is composed, a good finisher and has a top mentality, so I understand why clubs are looking at him.”
Toney was handed the tough ban and £50,000 fine after accepting 232 breaches of the FA’s betting rules.
As part of the punishment he was unable to train with his club for the first half of the suspension, but he has been working hard away from Brentford and was recently pictured training alone ahead of a key step on his comeback journey.
Frank compared Toney to strikers such as Bayern Munich’s Harry Kane (L) and Manchester City’s Erling Haaland (R)
The striker was banned by the FA in May after admitting 232 betting offenses
In August, Toney signed a deal to join renowned sports management agency CAA Stellar, clearly signaling his intention to leave Brentford.
Toney said: “Joining CAA Stellar is very timely for me. It feels like a new beginning.
‘Never underestimate the power you have to give your life a new direction.’
Jonathan Barnett, executive chairman of CAA Stellar – who managed Gareth Bale’s career and famously engineered his record-breaking move to Real Madrid, added: ‘I am very excited that we have signed Ivan. He is a great talent and I am sure this is the start of a fantastic future for him.’