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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Ricky Charlesworth

Ivan Toney Premier League transfer prediction made by Bournemouth boss Jonathan Woodgate

Ivan Toney has enjoyed a superb and record-breaking season for Brentford.

The centre-forward finished off in style on the final day of the regular season, taking his overall tally to a staggering 31 goals in the Championship to set a new Championship record.

He wants to continue that form heading into the end-of-season lottery that is the play-offs.

The Bees finished third in the table for the second year running, just falling short of promoted pair Norwich and Watford.

This year though, they want to go one better and reach the Premier League after losing out to Fulham in last year's final. They face Bournemouth over two legs for the right to reach Wembley's showpiece.

Toney will be key to those hopes and his form has not gone unnoticed in the past few months. Sides including Leicester City and Everton are reportedly interested in the 25-year-old.

Ahead of Monday's first leg at the Vitality Stadium, Bournemouth chief Jonathan Woodgate believes Toney will end up in the top flight - one way or another.

"I think there will be definitely teams sniffing around him," Woodgate said.

"Last year, no one (in the top flight) really took a chance on him when he was at Peterborough. I thought, when I watched him, he was always a really, really good centre-forward.

"I am sure Premier League teams will take him now, even if they don't go up."

Woodgate is under no illusions as to how hard his defence will be worked by the busy Toney.

He added: "He's aggressive. Really good in the air. He can come short, can go long, an excellent goal-scorer.

"Our centre-backs need to be on it, the three that we've got in the building – Meps, Cooky and Carter-Vickers – have got their hands full.

"There's no getting away from that but I am sure they will stand up to him."

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