Brentford are expected to open contract talks with Ivan Toney - despite the England international receiving an eight-month ban.
Toney, 27, has been banned and fined £50,000 for breaching the Football Association's strict betting rules 232 times. But, as reported by Mirror Football, a number of Premier League clubs are still interested in signing the prolific striker.
Toney is about to enter the final two years of his contract and it's believed the Bees are worried about losing him on the cheap when his ban ends in January. Rival clubs will also be tempted to make a move next summer if he enters the final year of his contract.
According to the Daily Mail, Brentford will open contract talks with Toney at the end of this season. Thomas Frank's side have two fixtures remaining, starting with Saturday's trip to Tottenham. They will finish the campaign at home to Manchester City.
It's claimed Brentford's owner Matthew Benham was willing to listen to offers for Toney this summer, but a transfer now seems unlikely due to the player's ban. Yet there will be nothing stopping clubs making an offer in either January or next summer.
Toney's valuation will decrease the closer he gets to his current contract expiration date of June 2025, but Brentford can counter that problem by giving him a new deal. The Bees reportedly want more than £50million for their prized asset.
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Toney is thought to be earning £20,000-a-week, but that is a modest salary for a 20-goal Premier League striker. Only two players have scored more than the former Newcastle man this season: Tottenham striker Harry Kane and Man City superstar Erling Haaland.
Brentford have previously spoken to Toney about extending his stay at the Community Stadium but to no avail. It's believed the club's highest earner is currently Ben Mee on around £55,000-a-week - and they do not want to smash their strict pay-scale.
A sale could suit Brentford... but not on the cheap. Manchester United and Chelsea are interested in signing Toney, while other clubs could enter the conversation depending on how the summer transfer window pans out.
As it stands, Toney will be allowed to return to first-team training in September before making his Premier League comeback in January, but he may decide to lodge an appeal. The FA are set to apply to FIFA to make the eight-month ban worldwide.
Sacking Toney is an option, but not a realistic one. Brentford would save around £640,000 in wages by releasing him but would lose one of the most valuable players outside of the Premier League's so-called "Big Six".
On his ban, Toney said: "I am naturally disappointed that I will be unable to play for the next eight months... I make no further comment at this point other than to thank my family and friends, Brentford FC and our fans for their continued support, through what has been a very difficult time. I now focus on returning to play the game I love next season."
