Brentford make January transfer decision amid new defender speculation

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Evening Standard

·20 December 2024

Brentford make January transfer decision amid new defender speculation

Bees have been linked with new full-backs with long-term absentees Rico Henry and Aaron Hickey still sidelined

Brentford are gearing up for a very quiet January transfer window and plan to make no new signings.

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Standard Sport has learned that the Bees are instead focused on the summer window and will only enter the market next month if they suffer fresh and serious long-term injuries which force their hand.

Two of the club’s four senior full-backs, Rico Henry and Aaron Hickey, have been injured all season so far, and there had been speculation that Brentford would look to strengthen in that area.

But the club have been encouraged by how well Keane Lewis-Potter, Kristoffer Ajer and Sepp van den Berg have done when filling in at full-back, and the Bees do not intend to explore other options in January.

Manager Thomas Frank and the club’s recruitment team believe the priority must instead be helping players who have joined Brentford in 2024 to bed in.

Yunus Emre Konak and Hakon Valdimarsson were signed in January, before Van den Berg, Fabio Carvalho, Gustavo Nunes, Jayden Meghoma and club-record signing Igor Thiago joined in the summer.

Brentford, who host Nottingham Forest on Saturday, are currently 11th in the Premier League, having made an excellent start to the season despite the sale of England striker Ivan Toney to Saudi Pro League side Al-Ahli on deadline day.

The Bees have had no trouble finding the net in Toney’s absence, with forwards Bryan Mbeumo, Yoane Wissa and Kevin Schade contributing 25 goals between them across all competitions. In the Premier League, only Chelsea and Tottenham have scored more than Brentford’s 32 so far this term.

Brentford were knocked out of the Carabao Cup at the quarter-final stage on Wednesday night when they lost 3-1 at Newcastle.