IVAN TONEY has been backed to leave Brentford in an £80million transfer this summer.
That’s despite being handed an eight-month ban for breaching FA betting rules.
The Brentford and England striker was hit with the punishment after being charged with 232 breaches in November.
Toney, also fined £50,000 and warned over his future conduct, will not be allowed to train until September.
And the 27-year-old is unable to play in a match until mid-January next year.
Toney’s suspension also looks set to end his hopes of securing a move to a top club this summer.
READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWS
Numerous teams are hoping to land a top-class striker, with the likes of Chelsea recently linked.
But former Three Lions forward Darren Bent reckons Toney can still make a big-money transfer at the end of the season.
And he even reckons clubs will be willing to pay up to £80m, despite Toney being out of action for two-thirds of a year.
Bent told talkSPORT: “You know what the bonkers thing is, though? I know he has been banned for eight months and he won’t feature until January, I think someone big will still get him.
Most read in Football
FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS – BEST NEW CUSTOMER OFFERS
“You know what Brentford might have to do, I know they have Yoane Wissa and Bryan Mbeumo…
“Say Chelsea come in with a massive offer for him, Brentford might have to take that money and replace him.
“That is half a season, done. I don’t think Brentford will be in relegation trouble but next season, it will be more difficult.
“They might have to take the £70m/£80m fee and replace him, he is going to be a big miss. You can’t cover the fact he will be a big miss.”
Brentford boss Thomas Frank certainly feels Toney could shine at a bigger club.
He said: “If Ivan was playing in a top-four club, he would score 25-plus goals. I’m convinced about that.
“I’m very happy he is playing for us and not another club and I think it is remarkable what he has done.”
Toney joined Brentford from Peterborough for around £10million in 2020.
31 goals in his debut season saw the Bees promoted to the Premier League.
After netting 12 times last term, Toney has hit 20 this season to help his side record an impressive top-half finish.
As for his suspension, Brentford said in a statement: “Ivan was charged with breaches of FA rule E8 and had a personal hearing earlier this week.
“Brentford FC is currently awaiting the publication of the written reasons of the independent Regulatory Commission.
“We will review them before considering our next steps.”
The FA’s official statement read: “Ivan Toney has been suspended from all football and football-related activity with immediate effect for eight months, which runs up to and including 16 January 2024, fined £50,000 and warned as to his future conduct for breaches of The FA’s Betting Rules.
“The Brentford FC forward was charged with 262 breaches of FA Rule E8 in total between 25 February 2017 and 23 January 2021.
“The FA subsequently withdrew 30 of these breaches and he admitted to the remaining 232.
“His sanctions were subsequently imposed by an independent Regulatory Commission following a personal hearing.
“He is permitted to return to training only with his club for the final four months of his suspension starting from 17 September 2023.
“The independent Regulatory Commission’s written reasons for these sanctions will be published in due course, and The FA will wait to review them before commenting further.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
