Arsenal could hand major transfer boost to Newcastle United amid FFP battle after Brentford agreement

Brentford’s signing of Club Brugge striker Igor Thiago could provide an unexpected financial boost for Newcastle United.

The Bees got their summer transfer spending underway on Wednesday when they completed a £30m move for the former Cruzeiro and Ludogorets frontman, who will officially become a Bees player at the end of the season.

Speaking after the deal was agreed, Bees boss Thomas Frank said: ”We have signed a key player for a key position. Thiago is a very exciting striker who fits the role in our team. I’m very pleased that we have been proactive as a club; big credit to (owner) Matthew Benham, (director of football) Phil Giles and (technical director) Lee Dykes for the hard work they have done. We are ahead of the curve. He is hard working and a very good pressing player. He is also a physical presence, very good in the box and can link the play.”

The signing of Thiago will only increase speculation England striker Ivan Toney will leave Brentford during the summer as he reportedly continues to attract attention from a number of Premier League clubs including Manchester United and Arsenal. Frank has already confirmed he expects the former Peterborough United striker to leave the club over the coming months - although he did stress it would be an ‘expensive’ deal for any willing suitor to conduct.

Newcastle have been tentatively linked with a move for Toney, who spent three years at St James Park earlier in his career and made just two first-team appearances for the Magpies. Although a move for their former striker seems unlikely at this point in time, United could benefit if Toney does leave Brentford this summer after agreeing a sell-on clause when he left Tyneside to join Peterborough United in a £350,000 deal in August 2018.

The Magpies have already benefited from an initial sell-on clause following the striker’s move to Brentford and their battle with Financial Fair Play regulations could receive a further boost after Peterborough chairman Darragh McAnthony confirmed United could receive further income if Toney does complete a big money move at the end of the season.

Speaking on the Hard Truth Podcast last month, he said: "We have received £10 million so far from Brentford and we will receive X amount – I’m not allowed to say the number – of any future profit and Newcastle will receive 30% of what we get from us. We earn money every time Ivan moves and so do Newcastle. That’s how these deals are structured and I’m all for it. It’s like a chain reaction and it’s the best thing.”