Ivan Toney to start and captain Brentford against Nottingham amid Chelsea links
Having constantly seen himself linked with a move to Chelsea, Brentford striker Ivan Toney would be hoping to get off the mark as soon as possible following the end of his eight-month ban from competitive football for breach of betting rules.
The player, as Brentford boss Thomas Frank confirmed in his pre-match presser (h/t Fabrizio Romano), shall not only start against Nottingham Forest at home this weekend but will also wear the captain’s armband. The 27-year-old was last part of a Premier League matchday squad for the Bees back in May 2023 and started the game in a 1-0 defeat against Liverpool.
Toney finished last season with 21 goals and five assists in 35 appearances across all competitions. His timely return would give Brentford the best chance to bring an end to their five-game losing streak and ensure a respectable finish on the points table, as their current standing surely does not reflect how good of a team the Bees are.
The Chelsea target will be keen to make an impression as soon as possible. There have been talks of a January move for the player, but considering how important he could prove to be for Brentford in the second half of the campaign, it is tough to see if they sanction a move for Toney this window. The Bees are 16th on the table and survival in the league could hinge on Toney’s return, so he could be worth more to Brentford than any amount of money a bigger team might realistically offer.
For a team like Chelsea that has had so many inconsistencies in front of goal this season, a proven goal-scorer like Toney might just be a game-changer and help turn around the club’s sorry fortunes over the last few months. You can bet on the fact that the former Newcastle United man will help elevate the performances of the youngsters around him.
Here’s some trivia. The Blues are among the three teams that Toney has failed to score against in the Premier League (min. two appearances). He has scored most of his goals in the English top tier against Brighton, Newcastle, Leeds and Norwich (3). Stats are via Transfermarkt.
The subplot of Toney’s potential move to Chelsea adds an extra layer of complexity to the narrative. As the transfer window unfolds, the tug of war between Brentford’s desire to retain their star player and Chelsea’s pursuit of a goal-scoring solution intensifies. The outcome will not only shape the trajectory of both clubs in the current season but also influence the broader landscape of Premier League dynamics.
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As Toney takes the field against Nottingham Forest, both Brentford and Chelsea fans will keenly observe his performance, contemplating the potential impact he could have on the fortunes of his current and, perhaps, future club.