How the Bees might enter the summer transfer window in preparation for the upcoming Premier League season
Who knows what lies ahead for Thomas Frank and Brentford as they attempt to rebound from a disappointing Premier League season.
When the previous season began in August 2023, the Bees had no intention of finishing in the bottom five of the standings. The fear of relegation never looked real, but there is no question that a far better effort will be sought the next time around. Frank will want to play a role during the summer transfer window as he attempts to freshen up his team with some key signings.
The fates of important forwards Ivan Toney and Brian Mbeumo will be top of the agenda for the Bees manager, as both players continue to draw interest from around the Premier League. But how will Frank handle his business during the off-season? We couldn’t wait to find out, so we loaded up Football Manager 2024 to see how the world’s most popular managing simulation predictions Brentford’s summer.
Goalkeepers
This is a pretty lackluster start to events. All three of Frank’s existing goalkeepers remain in place, with the only alteration being the announcement of David Raya’s £27 million permanent move to Arsenal following a successful season-long loan stay with Mikel Arteta’s side.
There was only one loss in the defensive ranks, but it seems significant: Ben Mee joins Premier League newcomers Leicester City for £1 million. Two replacements have been brought in: Spanish centre-back Jose Copete arrives for £2.5 million from Real Madrid, while Italian left-back Emanuele Valeri enters on a free transfer after leaving Frosinone.
Frank’s defensive alternatives include Nathan Collins, Ethan Pinnock, Jose Manuel Copete, Mads Roerslev, Kristoffer Ajer, Rico Henry, Aaron Hickey, and Emanuele Valeri.
To begin with departures, a £15 million bid from Fiorentina enticed the Bees to sell Mikkel Damsgaard, while Mathias Jorgensen (or Zanka as he’s more often known) joins Montreal in the MLS for £1 million. Saman Ghoddos is likewise granted a free transfer and stays without a club. The Bees outbid six other Premier League teams for Birmingham City’s highly rated midfielder Jordan James in a £19 million deal, and Lassana Coulibaly joins from Serie A club Salernitana for £6 million.
Frank’s midfield options are Christian Norgaard, Matias Jensen, Josh Dasilva, Lassana Coulibaly, Vitaly Janelt, Frank Onyeka, and Jordan James.
