Thomas Frank confirmed that Ivan Toney accepted the decision to be left out of Brentford's opening match of the season against Crystal Palace, explaining that the choice was influenced by the significant transfer interest in the England striker.
Toney, who is in the final year of his contract, has been vocal about his desire to leave Brentford, with Arsenal, Chelsea, and Saudi Pro League side al-Ahli all reportedly interested. Although Frank acknowledged that a transfer is "not close," he explained that the decision to exclude Toney from the squad was made by him and the club on Thursday.
Thomas Frank explained to Sky Sports before the match that Ivan Toney was left out of the squad due to significant transfer interest and ongoing discussions. "A lot of things are happening with Ivan, especially regarding transfers. Given all this, we decided not to include him in the squad," Frank said. "I can't reveal too much the day before the game. Ivan is an exceptional player and has been fantastic for us over the past four years, but we demonstrated last season that we can manage without him."
After Brentford's 2-1 win, secured by a goal from Yoane Wissa, Frank addressed how Toney had responded to the decision. "There was no issue," Frank said. "Ivan always wants to play and has been one of our top players for a long time. We know that, as with any great player, there comes a time when they may leave the club, and others need to step up. Every time Ivan hasn't played, Wissa has risen to the occasion, and he did so again today."
Despite Newcastle's ongoing interest, Crystal Palace captain Marc Guéhi played the full match at the Gtech Stadium. Palace reportedly turned down Newcastle’s latest offer, which was valued at up to £65 million. Chairman Steve Parish confirmed that he has discussed the situation with Newcastle's sporting director, Paul Mitchell, and noted that other clubs have also expressed interest in the England defender.
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