Brentford are in desperate need of another star striker.
Their current forward, 26-year-old Ivan Toney, was injured at the start of January but has returned to fitness, although is still at the centre of a controversy. The attacker Toney has been charged by the FA over 262 breaches of betting regulations.
This is likely to result in a significant playing ban if he is found guilty and with him being Brentford’s only out-and-out striker, it means the Bees are lacking depth in this position and thus, will urgently need to bolster the team with a new striker. We have scouted two strikers who could be a good fit for the club playing alongside Bryan Mbeumo or Ivan Toney.
How essential is Toney to Brentford?
Toney has consistently shown his star quality since signing for Brentford in 2020, playing a substantial role in ending Brentford’s Championship playoff heartbreak. Toney has scored 12 goals in 16 games and contributed to over half of Brentford’s goals this season, putting him third in the race for the Golden Boot.
He has great linkup play with strike partner Bryan Mbeumo and goalkeeper David Raya who sends countless long balls to the former Peterborough man. As vice-captain for the team, Toney also has a key leadership role within the squad. Brentford face a serious challenge in maintaining their excellent form without their main source of goals. The Bees don’t have another prolific goalscorer and need to find a new striker fast.
Toney in Trouble
Toney has been charged by the FA over breaching betting regulations and was required to provide a response to the charges on 4th January 2023. Thomas Frank backed him, however, promising his total support and paid tribute to Toney’s mental strength after he missed out on World Cup selection with England.
Frank was quoted in the Express: “I can only praise Ivan for his mentality and his character. He is in many ways unique. His ability to have that laser focus going into the game, fulfilling his role in the team, is remarkable.”
Kieran Trippier was found guilty of four betting charges that breached FA regulations and was banned for ten weeks a number of years ago. Frank responded to questions about the betting charges, saying:
“I have been assisting the Football Association with their inquiries and will not be making any comment until such an investigation has reached its conclusion”.
In other events, Toney was pulled over by the Police in April 2022 because his £160,000, green, G-class SUV Mercedes had dangerous, overly-tinted windows and a personalised number plate, reading IVAN 17, that breaches DVLA rules.
The case was brought to Bromley Magistrates Court in December; where Toney was convicted of using a vehicle in a condition likely to cause danger of injury and driving a vehicle when the registration mark failed to conform with regulations. He was ordered to pay fines totalling £540, plus a £54 victim surcharge and £100 in costs.
The Premier League footballer was also given three penalty points on his licence. Giving evidence to the court, PC George Anckorn said: “The driver’s attitude was poor. He was rude and obstructive to police. He did not care.”
With a recent injury and at risk of a playing ban, it is very uncertain whether Toney will be able to play for much of the rest of the season. The January transfer window is strategically crucial for Brentford who will need to sign another star striker in order to have a hope of maintaining their position in the Premier League.
Who should the Bees sign?
Junior Adamu
Adamu is a 21-year-old playing for RB Salzburg in the Austrian Bundesliga. He has 14 goal contributions so far this season. Adamu offers something different to Toney because he is not an out-and-out target man but looks to come onto balls played through the defence then attacks using his pace and excellent dribbling ability. He is an exciting prospect who is not phased by one on one clashes with defenders. Both Adamu and Toney are good in aerial duels but unlike Toney, Adamu doesn’t like to hold up the ball.
Valued at only€8m by Transfermarkt, Adamu would be a good signing for Frank’s side even if Toney continued to play. He would be a good backup for Toney and add depth to the squad as well as being another good source of goals. West Ham and Leeds United had already taken an interest in the Salzburg man last summer. With Champions League experience too, Adamu is used to playing big matches that come thick and fast in the Premier League.
H ticks all the boxes for what Brentford need in a new striker and he will grow under the guidance of Frank. The price tag may well actually be around the €15m mark but this signing would still represent excellent value for Brentford.
Mathys Tel
Tel is the next big thing, but you just don’t know him yet. He is a 17-year-old French striker currently being nurtured at Bayern Munich. He’s scored three goals in the Bundesliga this season for Bayern Munich and grabbed another in the DFB-Pokal.
Tel is Bayern’s youngest-ever goalscorer and is already a complete forward; which is why, at such a young age, he’s breaking into one of the most star-studded squads in Europe. He is good technically, extremely athletic and has bags of self-confidence. He can play across the front line but prefers the left side. Like Adamu, Tel is also very speedy with his game being compared to that of Thierry Henry as a result.
His potential appears to be limitless and he will probably stay at Bayern Munich to become a world-beater. However, Brentford have been good at producing amazing strikers so he might be tempted to join the club, perhaps on a loan deal.
Being a major prospect, Tel would be a statement signing for The Bees, one that would be very exciting to see. The London club have previously pulled off signings that you wouldn’t expect, such as Christian Eriksen, showing that the outfit can attract players of a high calibre. Tel is an unlikely signing but you can never count Brentford out.
Conclusion
Both Adamu and Tel are great options for Brentford, but Tel is unlikely to want to leave Bayern Munich and Brentford will likely be conservative if they do buy a striker.
Therefore Adamu looks to be the most likely candidate to move to West London. Brentford have also been linked with Sunderland striker Ross Stewart, currently averaging a goal every 90 minutes in the Championship. He is good in aerial duels and is very dangerous in the box but Stewart is arguably not ready for the demands of pacy, end-to-end Premier League games week after week.
The Black Cats’ star would reportedly cost £7m but first and foremost, we will have to wait and see if Toney is allowed to play and whether Brentford are in the market for a new striker.
