Brentford dealt with the suspension of Ivan Toney to secure Premier League safety last season, but the Bees found themselves uncomfortably close to the drop. Will Thomas Frank’s side have enough to avoid another dogfight in 2024/25?
Premier League Season Preview 2024/25 – Brentford
Last season: 16th
Title odds: 500/1
TFF prediction: 18th
Transfers
In: Julian Eyestone, Benjamin Fredrick, Igor Thiago.
Out: David Raya, Finn Stevens, Thomas Strakosha, Shandon Baptiste, Charlie Goode, Saman Ghoddos, Ellery Balcombe (loan), Ben Winterbottom (loan).
Brentford’s consolidation as a Premier League outfit extends into 2024-25, as the Bees continue preparations for their fourth consecutive top-flight campaign. Thomas Frank’s side regressed from a ninth-place finish in 2022-23 to finish 16th last term, though had to deal with the absence of the suspended Ivan Toney for much of the campaign.
Toney had scored 20 league goals in 2022-23 before his eight-month ban for breaching gambling rules. His future remains up in the air after entering the final 12 months of his deal and expressing interest in an exit, but an injury to Igor Thiago has complicated matters.
Signed in a £30m deal from Club Brugge, the Brazilian has suffered a knee injury in pre-season that will leave him sidelined until 2025. Sanctioning the sale of Toney with Thiago injured and no other replacement could be catastrophic for a Brentford team most expect to be fighting to stay up.
💬 “We are progressing in the right direction now it is all about being ready for the first game”
Thomas Frank reacts to our final pre-season outing@pensionbee | #BREWOB pic.twitter.com/fwwdS4FYam
— Brentford FC (@BrentfordFC) August 9, 2024
Brentford ranked third in the Premier League for aerial duels won last season and remain one of the best organised sides in the league in terms of set-pieces. Only four teams conceded fewer goals from dead-ball situations than the Bees, whose familiarity with Frank’s methods could benefit them amid managerial change around them.
It’s been a quiet transfer window for Brentford so far with little business in or out at the GTech. That could change quickly should there be movement on Toney, with a necessity for signings and funds brought in.
Key man: Ivan Toney
Ivan Toney’s future is a real dilemma for Brentford, with the forward into the final 12 months of his deal. A sale would generate a significant fee to reinvest for a club with one of the lowest budgets in the Premier League, but also void Thomas Frank of a proven goalscorer.
Of the sides expected to be in and around the Premier League’s relegation places, Toney is arguably the best centre-forward out there. His exit would be a big blow, even if Bryan Mbeumo and Yoanne Wissa performed admirably in his absence last season.
That Ivan Toney assist 🤤 pic.twitter.com/rAWBQaMmCW
— Brentford FC (@BrentfordFC) March 31, 2024
One to watch: Aaron Hickey
After a bright start to his Brentford career, Aaron Hickey has been hamstrung with injury problems. The Scottish full-back started just nine games in the Premier League last season and did not feature after sustaining a hamstring injury in November.
With Rico Henry also out with a long-term problem, Thomas Frank was without two full-backs who can be crucial to Brentford’s game plan. Hickey will hope for an injury-free season as the 22-year-old looks to build on his potential in 2024/25.
