Brentford are reportedly set to open contract talks with Ivan Toney despite his eight-month ban from football for breaching betting rules.
The Football Association announced on Wednesday that Toney has been banned until January 17, 2024 after the striker admitted to 232 charges of betting offences.
The England international was also fined £50,000 for the breaches and warned about his future conduct.
Having scored 20 goals in 33 Premier League appearances this term, Toney's impressive form had led to speculation about a possible departure.
Prior to the ban, there was a suggestion that Brentford would be willing to listen to offers for one of their prized assets.
The likes of Arsenal, Manchester United and Newcastle United have all been linked with the 27-year-old, while Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur are expected to strengthen their respective forward lines.
However, with Toney now unavailable until 2024, interested Premier League clubs are unlikely to match Brentford's asking price, which is believed to be in excess of £50m.
Following the latest developments, the Daily Mail are reporting that Brentford will now look to open talks with Toney over a new contract.
The West London club are keen to reward Toney for his performances and show their support by offering him a new deal.
The forward has two years left to run on the £20,000-a-week contract that he signed when he completed his £10m transfer from Peterborough United in the summer of 2020.
Due to their strict wage structure, Brentford were unwilling to meet Toney's financial demands when a new deal was discussed earlier this season.
There is a possibility that Toney could agree to lower his wage demands in return for a clause being inserted into his contract that would allow him to leave next summer for a certain price.
Brentford and Toney have indicated that they are waiting to receive the written reasons behind his ban before they decide whether to appeal against the severity of the punishment.
With Toney's ban starting immediately, Brentford will have to negotiate their final two games of the season against Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City without the services of their top scorer. body check tags ::
