Brentford are looking to sign a full-back along with Brazilian wonderkid Gustavo Nunes as they conclude a busy transfer window with a final flurry of incoming activity this week.
While the focus is trained on England striker Ivan Toney – understandably given his profile and sizeable asking price – Brentford have had a very impressive summer, trading well while retaining key players like Bryan Mbeumo.
i understands the Bees – who signed Fabio Carvalho and Sepp van den Berg from Liverpool earlier this month – will announce a deal for highly-rated Nunes shortly in what feels like a significant coup for the west London club and are confident of bringing in more.
The 18-year-old left winger, who idolises Neymar, is seen as a future Brazil international and has been extensively scouted by Chelsea and Manchester United.
Nunes has been in London over the last few days awaiting confirmation of the deal with Gremio after undergoing medical checks.
Although the announcement has been delayed, the £10m signing is progressing as planned and he is seen as a player with huge potential who will improve under the tutelage of Thomas Frank.
And Brentford are not finished on incomings, with the intention of moving for another defender before Friday’s deadline – potentially on loan.
They had a bid turned down for Fiorentina right-back Michael Kayode at the start of the week but could return with a second offer.
The elephant in the room remains the future of Toney, which is no closer to being finalised despite the arrival of officials from Saudi Pro League side Al-Ahli in London to try and clinch the move.
While there is plenty of noise surrounding the England international – and his absence from both of Brentford’s opening Premier League fixtures – nothing is close on his sale with no club having met the Bees’ asking price.
It has been a difficult situation to manage but Brentford’s stance is clear.
While Toney might be agreeable to the move to Saudi Arabia – where his wages would be significantly improved on a long-term contract – any suitor must meet the club’s valuation.
That is more than the initial £35m being offered by Al-Ahli and there is no intention of dropping it.
Despite featuring in recruitment conversations at Manchester United and Arsenal there have been no offers from Premier League clubs yet, with one executive citing Profitability and Sustainability Regulations (PSR) as dampening the market for a striker who turns 29 next year and is looking for a long-term deal.
Frank spoke of his hope for a resolution after the defeat at Liverpool over the weekend but as of Tuesday morning, that appeared no closer.
The Bees may even opt to keep and reintegrate him into the squad if no-one matches their asking price.
The current impasse isn’t helping anyone with Toney set to miss out on Lee Carsley’s first England squad.
Toney’s absence at Anfield robbed him of the chance to impress the interim England manager who was at the game on Sunday.
In theory the deal could stretch out beyond Friday’s deadline, with the Saudi transfer window extending into October.
But it is seen in everyone’s best interests for the situation to be resolved long before then.
from Football - inews.co.uk https://ift.tt/x1lwYBE
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