Brentford: Ivan Toney transfer latest as Bees ditch tried-and-tested approach to save season
January is not when Brentford have tended to do their biggest transfer business.
Over the last three winter windows, they have spent just £2million on players - preferring to address holes in their squad each summer.
That said, Brentford do have money to spend, after continuing with their shrewd economic model as what Thomas Frank calls a “selling club”.
Top priority
Attack has to be the area Brentford prioritise.
Ivan Toney will be available from January 17 but, while his exit next month does not seem likely at present, it would only take a bid in the region of £60million for the Bees to have to take an offer seriously.
Brentford are having to contend with long-term injuries to Kevin Schade and Bryan Mbeumo.
Yoane Wissa, Neal Maupay and Keane Lewis-Potter have done OK in their place, but the Bees need more firepower.
What else they need
Aaron Hickey and Kristoffer Ajer are both expected back from injury sometime in January, but left-back Rico Henry is likely to miss the rest of the season after tearing his ACL.
Mads Roerslev is Brentford’s only nominal full-back currently fit, and technical director Lee Dykes and director of football Phil Giles plan to bring a reinforcement in.
Brentford are likely to opt against strengthening in other areas, despite injuries to midfield duo Josh Dasilva and Frank Onyeka.
Possible ins
The Bees must ensure they get their deals over the line if they do enter the market next month, considering Tottenham beat them to Brennan Johnson, Bayern Munich have just beaten them to Bryan Zaragoza of Granada, and the £35m summer move for Johan Bakayoko of PSV fell through.
Brentford are not thought to be actively working on many bids as it stands. They are, however, reportedly keeping tabs on the form of Nigeria striker Paul Onuachu, on loan from Southampton at Trabzonspor.
Possible outs
The obvious candidate who could possibly leave is Toney.
Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United have all shown interest, but bids big enough for Brentford to take seriously are not considered likely.
Dasilva, Shandon Baptiste and Charlie Goode all enter the final six months of their contracts in January and injuries have limited game time for all three.
Loan moves could therefore be in the offing, while 21-year-old Myles Peart-Harris could also be loaned out.
