Brentford manager Thomas Frank has made an astonishing public declaration of interest in Crystal Palace's creative maestro Eberechi Eze, openly admitting he would "love" to bring the England international to the Gtech Community Stadium.
The bold admission comes as Frank prepares for the almost certain departure of star striker Ivan Toney, with the Bees boss identifying Eze as the ideal marquee signing to fill the impending void.
Frank's comments emerged following Brentford's hard-fought 1-1 draw against champions Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium, where his team demonstrated the resilience that has become their trademark.
Frank's Bold Transfer Admission
When questioned about potential transfer targets, Frank didn't hesitate to express his admiration for the Palace playmaker. "I think Eze is a unbelievable player," Frank stated with palpable enthusiasm. "I would love to have him in my team."
The public nature of these comments represents a significant departure from the usual transfer market discretion, potentially setting the stage for a summer bidding war.
The Toney Factor
Frank's pursuit of attacking reinforcements is driven by the expected departure of Ivan Toney, who has been heavily linked with moves to Arsenal and Chelsea. The Brentford manager acknowledged the reality of the situation, noting that while the club would prefer to keep Toney, they are prepared for his exit.
"The reality is we're a selling club," Frank conceded, outlining the challenging economics that Premier League clubs like Brentford must navigate in the modern transfer market.
Performance at the Etihad
Brentford's impressive display against Manchester City provided the backdrop for Frank's transfer revelations. The Bees took a shock lead through Neal Maupay before Erling Haaland's second-half equaliser denied them a famous victory.
Frank expressed immense pride in his team's performance against the champions, particularly highlighting their defensive organisation and counter-attacking threat against one of world football's most dominant sides.
The draw continued Brentford's remarkable record against Pep Guardiola's City, with the West London club now unbeaten in three of their last four meetings with the Premier League giants.
