Brentford

Tom McCoy
BBC Sport journalist

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If Brentford are to sign Ipswich's Omari Hutchinson, they will have to make him the most expensive player in their history - having already had a £35m bid turned down.

The only player the Bees have paid £30m or more for is Brazilian striker Igor Thiago, who has started just one Premier League game since joining last summer because of a knee injury.

Forward Kevin Schade briefly became the Bees' record buy when his loan move from Freiburg was made permanent two years ago, but that deal was eclipsed when Nathan Collins arrived from Wolves for £23m a month later.

While Brentford's recruitment has largely been funded by player sales, their spending shows just how far they have progressed under owner Matthew Benham.

It was as recently as 2014 that they made their first seven-figure signing, paying £1m to Leyton Orient for Moses Odubajo.

Manchester United's move for Brentford forward Bryan Mbeumo has hit an obstacle. The Bees have increased their asking price to closer to £70m, while the Old Trafford club do not want to pay more than £65m. (Guardian), external

Newcastle United could move for Brentford's Yoane Wissa if they fail to sign Eintracht Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike this summer. (GiveMeSport), external

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Tom McCoy
BBC Sport journalist

Brentford are still interested in a deal for Ipswich's Omari Hutchinson, despite having a £35m bid rejected for the winger, who could arrive as a replacement for Manchester United target Bryan Mbeumo.

The 21-year-old only managed three Premier League goals and two assists as the Tractor Boys were relegated last season, so why are the Bees prepared to pay a club record fee to bring the former Chelsea player back to west London?

Hutchinson displayed only fleeting moments of quality as Ipswich struggled last term but put himself in the shop window at this summer's European Under-21 Championship, where he was a key part of the England side that retained their title, including scoring in the final against Germany.

Deployed on the left wing - a role he has rarely played for the Suffolk club, despite being left footed - Hutchinson was a constant menace with his direct running.

He attempted 29 dribbles - at least six more than any other player, including nine in the semi-final against the Netherlands, when he repeatedly beat his opposite man.

The former and Chelsea youngster also had 35 touches in the opposition box at the tournament, second only to Germany's rising star Nick Woltemade, and created 11 chances - the joint-third highest total.

It was harder for Hutchinson to make the same kind of impact in the Premier League, with his Ipswich team often penned into their own half and struggling to get the ball to their attacking players.

Fielded either as a number 10 or on the right, he nonetheless showed a willingness to run with the ball and attempted 147 'take-ons' (trying to dribble past an opponent), which was the league's fifth-highest tally.

Last season was only Hutchinson's second in senior football. He was Ipswich's young player of the year while on loan from Chelsea in 2023-24, then joining for an initial £20m after promotion was secured.

The step up in quality was undoubtedly a challenge for him, but Brentford, who are renowned for their data-led approach to recruitment, have seen enough promise to try to prise him away from Portman Road.

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Liverpool have made enquiries about four more attackers in case they are unable to secure a deal for 25-year-old Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak. Their list includes 28-year-old Brentford forward Yoane Wissa. (Mail+ - subscription required), external

Sassuolo and Italy striker Andrea Pinamonti is attracting interest from West Ham United, with London rivals Brentford also enquiring about the 26-year-old. (Standard), external

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British filmmaker Sir Matthew Vaughn and philanthropist and businessman Gary Lubner have become minority shareholders of Brentford Football Club.

Vaughn, who founded MARV, is known for producing films such as the Kingsman franchise, Kick-Ass and Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels.

Matthew Benham, who took control of the club in 2012, remains the majority shareholder and it appears some of the freshly raised funds will be used to bolster the squad.

In a statement, the club said the new investment "will not only enable greater investment in the squad but also create enhanced commercial opportunities and help grow Brentford's reach and impact locally and beyond".

Lubnerhave is the founder of This Day Foundation and former chief executive of Belron.

He said: "Brentford stands for more than just football. Its commitment to community, integrity, and social progress reflects the values I care deeply about."

Vaughn added: "There is a uniquely universal respect for this club in the football world, and I too share in this admiration deeply.

"So here I am, embarking on a new chapter of my life where I will give my all to help build on the amazing foundations that have been laid on and off the pitch."

The pair have become minority shareholders through their investment in Best Intentions Analytics, the holding company for Brentford Football Club and Merida AD.

Brentford chief executive Jon Varney said: "It is vital to us that any new investors understand and reflect the values of our club.

"Since we first met Gary and Matthew, we have been aligned on how they can make a positive impact.

"They bring different but complementary expertise, and I am excited to see what we can collectively achieve."

Matthew Hobbs
BBC Sport

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Jordan Henderson arrives at Brentford following the departure of defensive midfielder and captain Christian Norgaard to Arsenal.

The Denmark international's boots will be big ones to fill.

Since Norgaard's Premier League debut in 2021, he has made an unrivalled 201 interceptions, while he also ranks second overall for recoveries (844) and third for tackles won (189).

Henderson perhaps did not play as many full games as he would have liked since joining Ajax from Saudi Pro League side Al-Ettifaq in January 2024, but he was still effective in Amsterdam.

He created the joint-most chances of any Ajax player in the Eredivisie last season, while he also completed the most passes and crosses, and made the most tackles and interceptions combined, of any midfielder for the Dutch club.

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Brentford manager Keith Andrews has described new signing Jordan Henderson as "one of the most influential leaders" in the recent history of the Premier League.

Andrews has earmarked Henderson's leadership ability as one of the key reasons for his arrival at Gtech Community Stadium.

"When we became aware of Jordan's availability, it was a pretty simple decision," Andrews told Brentford club media., external

"He's still phenomenally fit and he's still phenomenally motivated to achieve things in the game, having already achieved a lot.

"With the void of experienced players leaving the building - Christian Norgaard, Mark Flekken and Ben Mee - it was important to replace that.

"We've got a pretty young squad, overall, and we've got a lot of club experience, which is really important - but what Jordan will bring is that he has been one of the most influential leaders in modern Premier League years.

"He's been at the forefront of driving for titles and Champions Leagues at a fantastic football club.

"He will drive standards and be a brilliant addition to the squad."

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Jordan Henderson says it was an "easy decision" to join Brentford after leaving Ajax this summer.

The 35 year-old has been officially revealed as a Bees player, signing a two-year deal in west London.

"I'm delighted that I'm here; I'm very excited to get started and get going," the midfielder said in his first club interview.

"I've always had huge admiration for the club and what they've achieved over the past few years - in particular, how they've grown as a club.

"When I spoke to Phil Giles, Lee Dykes and Keith Andrews, I just had a really good feeling about everything. As soon as I had that conversation, it was clear for me that I wanted to come here and it was an easy decision in the end.

"I try my best to pass on my experiences, especially to the younger players. But, at the same time, I still need to perform and do my job on the pitch."

Brentford are considering a move for Ipswich Town and England Under-21 winger Omari Hutchinson, 21, as a possible replacement for Bryan Mbeumo. (Standard), external

That is because the Bees have now have reached an agreement with Manchester United over forward Mbeumo.

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All 20 clubs earn a share of Premier League prize money. The amount each club receives depends on their league position and number of televised matches.

Prize money consists of UK and international merit broadcast payments, equal shares, commercial revenues and facility fees.

All clubs received a central commercial payment of £7.9m and equal shares from UK (£29.8m) and international (£59.2m) revenues.

Clubs are also paid a facility fee for matches broadcast on domestic TV. Liverpool had 30 of their 38 league matches televised - more than any other club.

1st: Liverpool - £174.9m

2nd: Arsenal - £171.5m

3rd: Manchester City - £165.5m

4th: Chelsea - £163.7m

5th: Newcastle United - £160.2m

6th: Aston Villa - £159.3m

7th: Nottingham Forest - £152.5m

8th: Brighton - £145.1m

9th: Bournemouth - £143.4m

10th: Brentford - £138.9m

11th: Fulham - £135.5m

12th: Crystal Palace - £136.1m

13th: Everton - £131.8m

14th: West Ham - £130.9m

15th: Manchester United - £136.2m

16th: Wolves - £123.1m

17th: Tottenham - £127.8m

18th: Leicester - £116.9m

19th: Ipswich Town - £111.1m

20th: Southampton - £109.2m

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We asked for your views on the news that Brentford are set to sign former Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson on a free transfer in the upcoming days.

Here are some of your comments:

John: I think it's a perfect fit, the experience he would bring is exactly what is needed to plug the gap left by Norgaard's departure.

George: A ready made leader who can fill the gap left by departing skipper Christian Norgaard and the experienced Ben Mee to keep the ship steady in a time of huge upheaval. This is the kind of signing that reminds fans that the club has the planning and vision to keep us in the Premier League.

Ian: Wow! Henderson will be a good person on the pitch and in the dressing room, in sharing his knowledge and experience with the Brentford youngsters. Welcome Jordan. COYB's.

Magnus: Although not as fast and as good a player as when he was younger, this would still greatly benefit this Brentford side, and balance it. Henderson is a great replacement for Christian Norgaard.

Oliver: Having just lost our captain and most experienced player, I think its wise to bring in a leader, someone whose played at the highest of levels and won everything, to guide this good yet inexperienced squad.

Matt: A bit lukewarm to be honest. Henderson an understandable pragmatic stopgap for Norgaard but not particularly progressive.

Image source, Getty Images

Brentford are set to sign Jordan Henderson on a free transfer with the deal formalities expected to be confirmed in the coming days.

The 35-year-old faced considerable interest from top clubs in England and Europe – but Brentford have won the race to sign the former Liverpool skipper.

It is thought that playing in the Premier League will provide Henderson with a platform to stay in Thomas Tuchel's England squad before next summer's World Cup.

The 84-cap England midfielder will help plug the gap vacated by former Bees captain Christian Norgaard, who signed for Arsenal on Thursday, but do you think he is the man for the job?

Let us know your thoughts

Nottingham Forest have had another bid rejected for Brentford striker Yoane Wissa, 28. The bid is believed to be even lower than the £25m they previously offered for the Congolese international in January despite the Bees' valuation of £50m. (The Athletic - subscription required), external

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Brentford captain Christian Norgaard has completed a move to Arsenal after six seasons with the club.

The midfielder made 196 appearances for the Bees, scoring 13 goals.

"On behalf of everyone at Brentford, I'd like to thank Christian for everything he's done for the club over the past six years," said director of football Phil Giles.

"He has been a key player for us, played a big part in helping us retain our Premier League status for the past four years, and has been a fantastic captain over the past couple of seasons.

"He has really earned the opportunity at one of England's biggest clubs through his performances and his personality.

"We wish him well and he will always be welcomed back at Brentford in future."

Brentford are likely to demand £65m for Bryan Mbeumo, having already rejected bids of £55m and £62.5m from Manchester United for the forward. (Mirror), external

The Bees are keeping a close eye on Middlesbrough midfielder Hayden Hackney, with the 23-year-old attracting significant interest from Premier League rivals Everton, West Ham, Fulham, and Crystal Palace, as well as European sides Porto, Stuttgart, and Bayer Leverkusen. (Sky Sports), external

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The BBC's search to find a new football expert is under way, with 12 content creators competing in Last Pundit Standing to win a role as BBC Sport's next football content creator.

The first two episodes of the show - co-hosted by former Watford captain Troy Deeney and YouTuber and football presenter James Allcott - are available to watch on iPlayer, as well as BBC Sport's YouTube channel and TikTok account, with new episodes every week until 11 August.

The contestants, who were chosen from more than 400 applicants, will be whittled down through a series of tasks staged at iconic football locations as the creators are challenged by some of the biggest names in the game.

Read more about the show here

Watch the first two episodes of Last Pundit Standing now on BBC iPlayer