Brentford

It's that time of the year again - the annual act of foolishness in which I try to predict the outcome of the 2024-25 season for all 20 Premier League clubs.

Brentford - 17th

The shadow of Ivan Toney's potential departure will hang over Brentford for the rest of this transfer window and there is no doubt it would damage the Bees in a big way if he leaves, especially after a cruel twist of fate in pre-season.

Brentford completed the club-record £30m g of Brazilian striker Igor Thiago from Club Bruges, perhaps in readiness for Toney's sale, only for him to be ruled out until near the end of the year, having required knee surgery after being injured in a friendly against AFC Wimbledon.

It makes a deal for Toney even more hazardous to contemplate but it may still happen with the England striker entering the final year of his contract.

Manager Thomas Frank continues to do a fine job but this may be his biggest test, although the £27.5m g of Liverpool's talented 21-year-old Fabio Carvalho will lift morale.

It makes Bryan Mbeumo's presence even more significant while the return after injury of experienced defender Ben Mee, who has signed a new one-year deal, will also be a boost.

Read all of Phil's predictions here

Saudi Pro League side Al-Qadsiah have offered 28-year-old England striker Ivan Toney a yearly salary of £15.4m and a three-year deal in an attempt to entice him to leave Brentford. (Footmercato - in French), external

Wolves are looking at 27-year-old Brentford and Congo forward Yoanne Wissa as a potential attacking reinforcement. (Telegraph), external

Ipswich are poised to sign Sweden midfielder Jens Cajuste on a season-long loan from Napoli after Brentford pulled out of a deal for the 25-year-old. (Gianluca Di Marzio - in Italian), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Thursday's full gossip column

Image source, Getty Images

The draw for the second round of the Carabao Cup has been made.

Here is the list of the ties - which are split into southern and northern sections - involving Premier League clubs:

South

• AFC Wimbledon v Ipswich Town

• Brighton & Hove Albion v Crawley Town

• Birmingham City v Fulham

• Cardiff City v Southampton

• Colchester United v Brentford

• Crystal Palace v Norwich City

• West Ham United v Bournemouth

North

• Everton v Doncaster Rovers

• Nottingham Forest v Newcastle United

• Leicester City v Tranmere Rovers

• Wolverhampton Wanderers v Burnley

See the full draw

The games will take place in w/c 26 August.

Nizaar Kinsella
BBC Sport football news reporter

Image source, Brentford FC

Brentford B youngsters Ashley Hay and Benjamin Arthur (pictured above) have revealed their journeys to being on the cusp of the Premier League.

Hay, signed from Hitchen Town aged 20 in January, said: "I was originally working at McDonald's and playing in a step five league for a club called Baldock Town.

"I was 17 at the time, having fun, enjoying myself, scoring goals. I worked my way up to step four while doing a plumbing apprenticeship, then up to step three with Hitchin Town.

"I got approached by Brentford for a trial. I was buzzing and wanted to keep going higher but never expected to go this far. It was a very big step up.

"I've had to work from nine to five, getting up early and training in the week [after work] so I never take anything for granted. I am very happy and blessed. I hope to go all the way to the top and play for the first team."

Arthur, 18, is a central defender with England youth international experience and has had a more straightforward journey since moving from Peterborough United.

He even made the first-team squad twice last season as a unused substitute against Arsenal and Swindon Town, but its he almost lost his dream about the age of 16.

He said: "Peterborough weren't sure about whether they were going to give me a scholarship.

"I was on the waiting list for a few months and that made me more hungry to make it professionally. I was looking at plan Bs and Cs if football didn't work out.

"I was 17 when I came here and signed from Peterborough after an England Under-18s call-up.

"I think the England call up got hype around my name and I was honoured that Brentford came in. I jumped at the opportunity."

Brentford B have entered the Under-21s leagues for the first time and are targeting immediate promotion. "I think we will bring home the title," added a confident Arthur.

The duo were speaking at an event in honour of Robert Rowan, the former Brentford technical director who died of a heart attack at the age of 28 in 2018.

The Bees continue to back research and awareness projects on heart conditions through the Heart of West London charity.

"It's an amazing foundation. It's interesting to see the work that’s going on," Arthur added. "The work people like Christian Eriksen have done has given exposure to heart problems and it can help people around the world."

Chris Collinson
BBC Sport football statistician

Brentford were the eighth-best side last season in of expected goals - which measures how well teams do the basics right of creating and limiting chances - but problems at both ends of the pitch saw them involved in a relegation battle.

Star striker Ivan Toney was missed in the first half of the season and did not quite have the impact many were hoping for on his return. Meanwhile goalkeeper Mark Flekken had a difficult first campaign, conceding around seven more goals than expected given the quality of chances he faced.

With Toney available from the start and Flekken hopefully more settled in his second season, if they can repeat what they did between the goals, then the Bees should not be buzzing near the bottom this time around.

Image source, Getty Images

The draw for the second round of the Carabao Cup will take place on Wednesday at the conclusion of the first-round tie between Leeds United and Middlesbrough.

Thirteen Premier League clubs will enter in the second round, as will Luton Town and Burnley, who were relegated from the top flight in 18th and 19th positions last season.

The draw for round two will be regionalised into northern and southern sections.

The seven Premier League clubs playing in European competitions in 2024-25, including Carabao Cup holders Liverpool, will come in at the third-round stage.

The key dates for the competition are as follows:

• Second round - w/c 26 August

• Third round - w/c 16 and w/c 23 September

• Fourth round - w/c 28 October

• Quarter-finals - w/c 16 December

• Semi-finals - w/c 6 January (first leg) and w/c 3 February

• Final - 16 March

Follow Wednesday's action and then the full draw here from 19:30 BST

Brentford are holding out for at least £60m for 28-year-old striker Ivan Toney, who is being monitored by Chelsea and Manchester United. (Independent), external

Meanwhile, the Bees are closing in on a deal for 25-year-old Republic of Ireland centre-back Dara O'Shea, which will give Burnley a profit on the £7m they paid to sign him from West Bromwich Albion last year. (Telegraph - subscription required), external

Want more transfer news? Read Wednesday's full gossip column

Ian Westbrook
Fan writer

Where will you finish in the league and why?

Brentford's fourth season in the Premier League is on the horizon and we feel like an established top-flight club.

Last season's 16th place was disappointing, but to stay out of the bottom three with our horrendous injury list was a huge achievement. I think we will build on that this term and finish 12th - but player fitness is again our big concern for the new season.

At one point last term we had 10 first-teamers sidelined, including full-backs Rico Henry and Aaron Hickey, who have each now been out for almost a year and are still unavailable,

Now new g Igor Thiago, earmarked as Ivan Toney's replacement, is out until Christmas after damaging his knee on his pre-season debut. This could lead to Toney staying for the final year of his contract.

Who is the best g or has he not signed yet and who should it be?

While the anticipation of seeing what Thiago can do is now on hold, our only other arrival is a real statement g - Fabio Carvalho from Liverpool, an exciting player who could make a real impact with the Bees.

He adds to a formidable forward line, even if it is without Thiago short-term and still possibly Toney, alongside Bryan Mbeumo, Yoane Wissa, Kevin Schade and Keane Lewis-Potter and that is why I think we will finish comfortably mid-table.

What do you want from your manager this season?

We have already got what we wanted from Thomas Frank - the fact he is still with us. Frank was linked with Chelsea and Manchester United over the summer, but thankfully nothing transpired.

Who will be the breakout star in your squad?

This could be a breakout season for Ukraine Under-21 international midfielder Yehor Yarmoliuk. He was involved in the matchday squad for every league and cup game last season - starting seven matches and making 23 substitute appearances. He looked at home in the Premier League with his calmness on the ball and has huge potential.

Ian Westbrook can be found at Beesotted podcast, external

We asked for your views on Brentford g Fabio Carvalho from Liverpool.

Here are some of your comments:

Brian: Liverpool's loss is Brentford's gain. This young man is quality and Thomas Frank is perfectly suited to developing him to the top of his game.

Darren: This is fantastic news. Great bit of business you Bees! Welcome to the red and white side of west London, Fabio.

Charlie: I do not feel he's the right g, we need another full-back not a forward. Maybe he will prove me wrong.

Mikhael: Thinking back to how Eriksen lifted the team with his defence-splitting es, we've got players who can do that but to have one on Carvalho's level is surely what we need to push for European football this season. If we get Europa League football maybe Ivan stays. Big "if" though.

Konstantinos: Great g. There is good quality up front. But we need some reinforcements at the back now, right and left ideally.

Image source, Getty Images

Fabio Carvalho has completed his £27.5m move to Brentford from Liverpool and will "add that something extra" to the Bees' team, says boss Thomas Frank.

Frank described Carvalho "is a player with a lot of qualities" and added: "Offensively, he has great abilities on the ball; he can go past players, slide a , create chances and get on the end of chances.

"He's a type of player that we don't have many of in the squad so he will add that something extra for us.

"His ability and mentality to work hard in the pressure is also very, very good. That's along with him ticking all the boxes from a cultural perspective and being the right character. So we're very pleased to see him come in and push the team forward."

Brentford fans - are you excited by Carvalho's arrival?

Let us know your thoughts, external

After a long summer break, BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club is back in action this evening.

Tune in as the cover all the major talking points from the summer and look ahead to Premier League football returning at the weekend.

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

Nat Hayward
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Two years on from making the move from Fulham to Liverpool, Fabio Carvalho is back in West London.

Not that his value has plummeted in that time - in moving for a fee of £27.5m including add-ons, Carvalho has cost more than five times the £5m the Reds paid for his services in May 2022.

But that increase is not really due to his performances in a Liverpool shirt. In his first season at Anfield he managed three goals in 21 appearances in all competitions. He started seven games but just four in the Premier League.

Then last season, he struggled for form and consistency during a loan spell at RB Leipzig of the Bundesliga during the first half of the 2023-24 season. No goals or assists and just one league start later, his loan was cut short and he switched to Hull City for the remainder of the campaign.

However, it was there he rediscovered the form that saw him grab Liverpool's attention when nominated for the EFL Young Player of the Season award in 2021-22.

In Liam Rosenior's possession-based system, he revelled when deployed as a central attacker, ing nine goals and two assists in 20 games as the Tigers narrowly missed the play-offs.

The question remains however, can he perform consistently in the top flight?

On the surface Brentford is as good a club as any for a positive answer. After all, the likes of Ethan Pinnock, Rico Henry, Christian Norgaard and Ivan Toney all jumped from the Championship and have looked at home a division above.

However, it has not been seamless for everyone. Despite glimpses, winger Keane Lewis-Potter, who also arrived from Hull has scored just four goals in 47 appearances.

With new £30m g Igor Thiago set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines, Carvalho will likely get opportunities from the start of the season and Thomas Frank has a track record of squeezing the most out of his players.

In a different shirt but familiar surroundings, is this Carvalho's time to prove himself in the Premier League?

Image source, Getty Images

The curtain opens on the 2024-25 Premier League season in just a matter of days, so why not take a look at how all 20 clubs performed in pre-season?

The games have been spread across the globe, from Tokyo and New York to Crawley and Preston.

See the results here

Brentford striker Ivan Toney is being looked at by Saudi Pro League clubs, with Al-Ahli keen on the 28-year-old England international. (Fabrizio Romano), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Monday's full gossip column

Image source, Getty Images

It was a pulsating encounter at Gtech Community Stadium on Friday night as Brentford and Wolfsburg shared eight goals.

Bryan Mbeumo, Yoane Wissa, Mathias Jensen and Kevin Schade were on the scoresheet from the Bees, so does the number of goals encourage you?

But are you concerned about shipping four at the other end?

Let us know your thoughts on the match here, external - and come back on Monday to read the comments

Image source, Getty Images

Brentford and Wolfsburg played out a thrilling 4-4 draw in a pre-season friendly at Gtech Community Stadium.

Bryan Mbeumo, Yoane Wissa, Mathias Jensen and Kevin Schade were all on the scoresheet for the Bees.

Ivan Toney, whose future remains uncertain, was among the substitutes but came on at half-time.

Patrick Wimmer scored two goals for Wolfsburg, while Maxence Lacroix and Maximilian Arnold also scored.

"We were very positive going forward, very exciting going forward - that's a big plus," said Brentford boss Thomas Frank.

“Obviously we can also see what we need to work on for the next nine days before we face Crystal Palace: defensive set-pieces, that is clear, it’s normally what we’re very good at.

“But it’s nice that the red flag came today and we’ve got the opportunity to sort it out."

Brentford have agreed a loan deal with a clause to buy, which could become mandatory and worth around £10m, to sign 24-year-old Sweden midfielder Jens Cajuste from Napoli. (Fabrizio Romano), external

Want more transfer news? Read Friday's full gossip column

Pat Nevin
Former footballer and presenter

Right now, brinkmanship is the name of the game. There have been times when some clubs sorted their transfer business early in the window and everyone wondered why so few others followed their lead. Put simply, it isn't in the selling clubs' financial interest, and it usually isn't in the moving player's financial interest either, to go early.

A selling club wants a bidding war to up the price and they don't mind a bit of panic buying when the window is creaking ever nearer the sill. If you still haven't signed that star player who you think, hope or maybe even actually believe, will make all the difference, clubs can get twitchy and make rash costly decisions.

I have watched it happen from within. Good intentions and a willingness to stick to a pre-arranged budget, suddenly evaporates when clubs are bounced into making these calls. There is also a bit of pride in there too. "We aren't losing out on our first choice to that lot!" is a common refrain, especially when it's to one of your close rivals.

As for the moving player, or more specifically his agent, last-minute brinkmanship is the dream scenario. Playing two or three suitors off against each other (and you don't even have to tell the truth of what you are being offered elsewhere) means you can exaggerate as much as you like to up the ante.

So that is why the deals go to the wire, and why they are so lucrative. It is also why I never have too much sympathy for a player, when a huge deal falls through at the last moment. Greed can push it too far in the end and it can all come crashing down, which is why they call it brinkmanship! If you dance on the edge of a volcano you might just fall in.

Brentford are close to g 24-year-old Sweden midfielder Jens Cajuste on loan from Napoli. (Sky Sports), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Thursday's full gossip column

Nizaar Kinsella
BBC Sport football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Midfielder Frank Onyeka is ready to leave Brentford before the summer transfer deadline at the end of August.

The 26-year-old has concerns over a lack of game time in west London under Thomas Frank after failing to get the desired number of starts when returning from an impressive Africa Cup of Nations campaign with Nigeria.

Onyeka is believed to have had options to leave in January, including a loan with option move from Girona, who have since qualified for the Champions League for the first time under City Football Group's ownership.

But different clubs in England, Spain and are now showing interest in Onyeka on the right .

However, it remains unclear what would tempt Brentford to sell with a contract until 2027, with an option for an extra year also included in his deal.

Brentford have made a £7m bid to sign Burnley's Republic of Ireland defender Dara O'Shea, 25. (HITC), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Wednesday's full gossip column