Brentford ‘prepared’ for Raya exit
Thomas Frank has reiterated that Brentord are prepared for the possibility of David Raya leaving this summer.
The goalkeeper has a year remaining on his contract and has rejected offers of a new deal.
Tottenham and Manchester United are among the clubs to have been linked with him – and Bees boss Frank has made it clear he believes Raya is worth in excess of £40m.
Several potential replacements have been identified should Raya be sold.
“David has one year left and we’ll see what will happen,” said Frank.
“I’m very, very happy with David here. Everyone knows he’s a £40m-plus goalkeeper if anyone is interested.
“We are prepared like in any other position. There is a possibility that maybe he will leave this summer for the right price.
“If that happens then of course we need to be prepared – like we are at left-back, right-back, striker.”
Toney ‘will only get better’
There also continues to be speculation over the future of Ivan Toney.
Speaking at a news conference on Friday afternoon, Frank was asked about the striker and joked that Toney would cost more than £100m.
Asked whether Toney would really be worth that, and about reports West Ham want £100m for England midfielder Declan Rice, Frank said: “In general I think there’s too much money in the football world.
“I think Declan Rice is a fantastic player. Goalscorers are normally more expensive.
“What will you pay for a striker that will guarantee you 20+ goals – and this is 20 goals for a mid-table club. What can he do in a bigger club?
“I love Ivan and I think it’s fantastic what he has achieved here – and there’s more for him to achieve here, no doubt about that. I think he’ll only get better.”
Brentford set to complete Schade deal
Frank insists Kevin Schade has done enough to prove the club should turn his loan move from Freiburg into a permanent deal.
The German attacker joined in January but has produced some mixed displays.
He has started just five games and was guilty of one of the misses of the season, against Aston Villa,
He also squandered a great chance to salvage a point at Manchester United when he shot straight at keeper David de Gea when through on goal.
But Frank believes there is more to the 21-year-old than just pace.
And Brentford will almost certainly break their transfer record to sign Schade, with a deal already in place.
“I would say definitely, yes. He is a young player that came from a good spell at Freiburg but hasn’t played consistently,” Frank said.
“But the potential we saw and believed in is huge, so we have had to build him up and now he is more physically.
“The five starts have come in the last seven games and he is showing more interesting aspects of his game and we are happy, and I am pretty sure we will have him.”
