Brentford considering striker options regardless of Ivan Toney's future

Brentford are weighing up whether to bring in a striker during the January transfer window even if they do not sell Ivan Toney, sources have confirmed to .

Toney was allowed to return to first-team training at the start of this week as part of stipulations in his eight-month ban from football imposed by FA for breaches of betting regulations. He will be allowed to play competitively again in January 2024.

recently reported Chelsea are considering a move for Toney upon his return to action, while Bees head coach Thomas Frank revealed on Sky Sports' Monday Night Football the club are open to selling.

While Toney's future has not yet been decided and he could still stay at the Gtech Community Stadium, understands Brentford have been assessing their options for the January window.

Frank insisted throughout the summer he was reluctant to bring in another number nine as current forwards Yoane Wissa and Kevin Schade could play there, but the Bees are keeping their eyes on several strikers.

One target for Brentford is Wolfsburg's Jonas Wind, who has made a fast start to the 2023/24 season with six goals in five games. The 24-year-old has been capped 20 times by Denmark, scoring seven times.

Also on Brentford's shortlist is AZ Alkmaar's Vangelis Pavlidis. The Greece international has similarly started the new campaign brightly, scooping the Eredivisie's Player of the Month award for August and scoring six goals in four league appearances.

Though Wind and Pavlidis are traditional centre forwards — they stand at 6'3 and 6'1 respectively — Brentford are also monitoring Santos' Marcos Leonardo, who is only 5'9.

Leonardo only turned 20 in May and has scored 50 goals in 155 matches for Santos, drawing comparisons with club legend Neymar.

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