Brentford believe Ivan Toney will not join Everton this summer
Brentford’s co-director of football Rasmus Ankerson has stated that Everton target Ivan Toney will not be leaving this summer.
The Bees secured promotion to the top flight by beating Swansea at Wembley on Saturday afternoon. Toney was among the goal scorers and deserved one in their biggest game of the season given how important he has been to their promotion chase.
For a number of months, he’s been linked with a move to the Premier League, and Everton have been among the clubs vying for his signature.
Had Brentford lost to Swansea, Toney would have been expected to leave just like Ollie Watkins and Said Benrahma did last summer. However, now that he’s anyway going to get Premier League football, he’s unlikely to leave the Bees just yet.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Ankerson provided an update on his future. He said, “Ivan has done amazingly this season. If we hadn’t gone up there would have been Premier League interest in him.
“Season after season player trading has been our business model. We have to buy cheap and sell expensive.
“Like he [Toney] said, he can’t wait to score goals in the Premier League, and I’m sure it will be for us.”
Not good news
While we know that club officials tend to rule out sales, but could change their stance if the right offer comes their way, it’s unlikely that Toney joins us this summer.
Having scored 33 goals in the league stage, he’s got Thomas Frank building the squad around him and will not get that luxury at Everton as he’ll still have to prove himself here.
Also, the fact that he’s first choice at Brentford and may have to play as backup to Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison at Everton, might make him reconsider moving to Merseyside.
We’re also unlikely to realistically pursue the player who’s not going to be worth anything less than £35m. Watkins, who didn’t have as good a season as Toney, went for an initial £28m fee [The Guardian], so the former Newcastle striker, who is the same age, is undoubtedly going to be worth more.
In other Everton news, ‘First class’ – Pundit: Toffees should make move for PL star with big point to prove
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