- Igor Thiago damaged his meniscus in Saturday’s friendly win over Wimbledon
- The striker joined Brentford from Club Brugge in a £30million deal this month.
- His arrival signaled that the Bees could be ready to cash in on Ivan Toney.
Brentford could struggle further to retain Ivan Toney this summer after new striker Igor Thiago suffered an injury in a pre-season friendly.
Thiago joined the Bees from Club Brugge earlier this month in a deal worth £30million.
The outlay on a striker appeared to indicate that Brentford are ready to cash in on Toney, who has attracted interest from a number of top clubs.
However, Thiago’s start to life at the club may have gotten off to the worst possible start after he damaged his meniscus in Saturday’s 5-2 win over Wimbledon.
The 23-year-old, who scored twice in the match, will undergo further scans next week to determine the severity of the problem.
Brentford could fight harder to retain Ivan Toney this summer after Saturday’s friendly
Meniscus injuries are always a source of great concern, even minor ones can keep a player off the court for one or two months.
A tear could mean four to six months out of action and Brentford would be without a recognised No.9 for most of the season if Toney leaves.
Tottenham and West Ham are interested in Toney, while Chelsea and Arsenal have cooled their interest.
Brentford had been seeking a fee in the region of £100m earlier this year but are now believed to be open to a significantly lower offer.
Igor Thiago suffered an injury during the Wimbledon clash and will undergo further scans
Thiago scored 18 goals in 34 Jupiler Pro League games last season, leading Club Brugge to the title.
He scored 15 in 32 goals for Bulgarian side Ludogorets in his first season in Europe.