Brentford will sell Ollie Watkins and Said Benrahma this summer if price is right, says Thomas Frank

Brentford boss Thomas Frank has confirmed that star forwards Said Benrahma and Ollie Watkins will be allowed to leave the club this summer, if their valuations are met.

Watkins was named Championship player of the year last season after his 26 goals helped the Bees finish third, before they fell agonisingly short of promotion with an extra-time defeat against Fulham in the playoff final.

Benrahma, meanwhile, finished the campaign with 17 goals and nine assists in 43 league appearances, cementing his place as one of the division’s most exciting attacking talents.

Neither has a shortage of Premier League suitors, with West Ham interested in Benrahma after selling Grady Diangana to West Brom and Crystal Palace keen on signing Watkins, while Aston Villa, managed by former Brentford boss Dean Smith, have been linked with both men.

“We know there’s a lot of rumours about a lot of our players because we had a top season,” Frank said. “We have some top players that also developed through the years to be top players.

“It’s no secret that Ollie Watkins and Said Benrahma are players that other clubs are interested in and if the price is right then we are open for potentially selling them.”

Frank added that while he is open to losing his leading duo he intends to keep hold of the rest of his squad, with goalkeeper David Raya and full-back Rico Henry among other reported targets for top-flight clubs.

“With the two of them [Benrahma and Watkins], if everything is hitting the numbers,” Frank confirmed. “But the rest are not for sale.”

Losing his best players is nothing new to Frank, who saw top scorer Neal Maupay sold to Brighton in a £20million a year ago and England U21 defender Ezri Konsa follow Smith to Villa.

Rather than grow frustrated at the turnover, however, the Dane has completely bought into the club’s model and takes huge pride in helping the likes of Watkins and Benrahma advance their careers.

“I think there’s only 12 clubs in the world that are not selling clubs, so it’s part of the job,” he added. “If I didn’t like that then I should look around for another job.

“I feel a big satisfaction by being part of their development, that I’ve, with a top staff, been a big part of how they’ve developed over the past two years. I think they deserve the move now if things are right.”