Ivan Toney transfer: Stats which show why Brentford will remain a threat with or without their star striker

Toney is serving a ban for breaching betting rules but can resume playing in January; Bees No 9 has been linked with Arsenal, Chelsea and other Premier League clubs; head coach Thomas Frank has called him 'world-class' — although stats show how club's other forwards have stepped up

Stats & info @Matt_Cheetham

Thursday 28 September 2023 13:56, UK

Ivan Toney's return to training has sparked interest in the striker's future ahead of his return to football in January.

Brentford will want to keep their Premier League record scorer, who is among the most effective finishers in the division. Were he to depart for a suitable fee, however, it might not be as debilitating to the club as it would seem.

Toney has scored 32 Premier League goals for Brentford since their promotion, almost double as many as anyone else. Those 32 goals account for 28% of his club's overall return — Harry Kane (31%) is the only player with a higher percentage for an ever-present club in that time.

Clearly Brentford have relied heavily upon Toney's goals. Just four players have scored more since their promotion and his shot conversion ranks among the best in the division since the start of last season. Only Kane, Erling Haaland and Callum Wilson surpass it among the division's most prolific scorers.

Those goals would leave a sizeable void for any replacement to fill. An advantage of playing for Brentford, however, is the service provided to their forwards. While the club's shots per game only rank 14th in the Premier League since the start of last season, their xG per shot leads the way.

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This means the average quality of a chance created by Brentford is greater than at any other club.