Brentford chief opens up on Ivan Toney Man United link with honest transfer admission

Brentford technical director Lee Dykes has confirmed that Ivan Toney will only be allowed to leave the club in the summer on their terms amid reports linking him with Manchester United.

Toney has been tipped for a big-money move away from the Gtech Community Stadium after impressing in the top flight. The striker, who scored his first England goal in midweek, has netted 39 Premier League goals since being promoted in 2021.

Arsenal and Chelsea have both been strongly linked with a move for the 28-year-old but the Gunners' interest has reportedly cooled with Mikel Arteta looking for options elsewhere.

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United have recently emerged as a potential move ahead of the summer transfer window. Erik ten Hag is understood to want to add another striker to his squad after the arrival of Rasmus Hojlund last year.

Ahead of tonight's meeting between the two sides, Brentford chief Dykes has discussed the future of Toney with United Stand as interest continues to heat-up.

"Well, we've got to be honest and open with ourselves, like we were last summer with David Raya," he said. "We signed players, and we're honest with them, and they're honest with us that maybe the time may come for them to go on to bigger and better levels than ourselves.

"Ivan [Toney] is in a similar situation to what David [Raya] was in. He’s got aspirations to play at a higher level, which is fine, but it’s got to be on Brentford's terms, obviously.

"And we've got to do it as a recruitment department, and it's particularly my role. I've just got to be