Player training separately as transfer to Brentford looks possible – Contact already in place

Brentford moved for Fiorentina’s Michael Kayode in the summer transfer window.

The approach was rejected as the Bees did not meet the Italian side’s price tag. While other clubs were also linked with the defender, Brentford still seem quite keen on a move for Kayode.

Gazzetta dello Sport today report that Thomas Frank’s side are ‘strongly interested’ in the 20-year-old, who is ready to leave Fiorentina in January.

Mudryk hint, Palmer warning - Three things spotted in Chelsea training ahead of Brentford clash - football.london

As a result, he has trained separately and La Viola have already identified Parma’s Woyo Coulibaly as a replacement.

Similar is reported by Alfredo Pedulla, who has stated that while Brighton & Hove Albion are an interested party in Kayode, Brentford are leading the chase.

The journalist also indicates that Coulibaly will replace the Italian defender, who is close to the exit door at the Italian side.

This comes after Pedulla had reported last week that both Brighton and Brentford have made contact for Kayode and that Fiorentina are now more open to a sale than they were in the summer.

Brentford's transfer priority this summer must be midfielders - The Athletic

Frank rues Bees’ defensive inconsistencies after loss

Brentford boss Thomas Frank rued his side’s defensive inconsistencies after the Bees fell to Arsenal 3-1 on New Year’s Day.

The Bees began brightly at the Gtech Community Stadium and earned a deserved lead inside the first 15 minutes when Bryan Mbeumo fired low past David Raya.

Frank rues Bees' defensive inconsistencies after loss | Ealing Times

But the Cameroon international’s effort would prove scant consolation as the Gunners took home all three points, Gabriel Jesus equalising on the stroke of half-time before quickfire strikes from Mikel Merino and Gabriel Martinelli put the contest to bed.

“Overall, it was a good performance,” said Frank. “We were brave and defended very well low, and we scored a brilliant goal to make it 1-0.

“The problem wasn’t the overall game, it was the three big moments where we didn’t defend well enough.

“The first one we definitely need to avoid, the second one is a set-piece – we have to take into consideration that they are the best in the world and to learn from that – but it also drops a little bit for them.

“The third one is also avoidable, so that’s the thing we need to do better if we want to win a game like this.”

Visitors Arsenal enjoy a deserved reputation as set-piece specialists, and their dead-ball prowess was at the forefront once more through Merino’s 50th-minute strike.

The Spaniard gave the Gunners the lead by capitalizing on a goalmouth scramble after Bees’ stopper Mark Flekken’s fluffed attempt at punching the ball clear.

And all too aware of the threat posed by Arsenal from set-pieces, Brentford defensive midfielder Vitaly Janelt lamented his side’s failure to contain their dead-ball threat.

He said: “It was a difficult game. I thought we played a very good first half; in general, we kept them quiet on chances.

“At half-time, we always speak about being on it for the first five or ten minutes of the second half, but we conceded a set-piece goal and then, five minutes later, we conceded again.

“Before the game, we spoke about winning the set-piece battle, which is something we didn’t do.

“It’s difficult to come back against this sort of team; we had a lot of possession after they scored twice but we didn’t create much.”