Brentford are preparing for their second season as a Premier League team after finishing in 13th, so what former Bees players should Thomas Frank now re-sign to climb up the table?
The west London outfit were the best of the promoted bunch in 2021/22 as they enjoyed a first top-flight run in 74 years. While 2020/21 Championship winners Norwich and runners-up Watford suffered instant relegations to the second-tier, Brentford were 11 points clear.
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But Brentford are likely to tackle the next campaign without star January addition Christian Eriksen. The Dane shone after joining Frank’s side on a short-term contract, with 11 games for four assists and a goal. Now, though, The Athletic note he is joining Manchester United.
Eriksen’s departure will leave a seismic void for creativity that Frank must replace to keep Brentford safe from relegation again. Further reinforcements will also be needed for the Bees to move up the table and build on the promise they showed throughout last season.
A clutch of former Brentford players could aid Frank’s efforts in the transfer market by re-signing them this summer. So, with that in mind, who could the Bees strive to take back to west London over the off-season to hit the new term stronger then they finished the last?
Brentford should re-sign Benrahma from West Ham to fill Eriksen void
Brentford should look to re-sign Said Benrahma from West Ham United this summer to fill the creativity void Eriksen’s departure will create. The Hammers bought the Algerian from the Bees in 2021 after taking up a £20m clause, rising to £25m, in their £5m loan transfer.
Benrahma had been a huge hit at Brentford, but was not an instant success at the London Stadium as he took time to get up to speed. The 26-year-old left the Bees on 27 goals and 24 assists in 83 Championship games, and has now hit nine and 12 in the Premier League.
The forward offered eight of his top-flight goals and six assists last season after starting 26 of 32 appearances. Yet West Ham could now sell Benrahma as The Sun claim David Moyes is open to offers, with the Scot eager to sign Jesse Lingard after he left Manchester United.
Frank should re-sign Maupay from Brighton to boost Brentford goal threat
Brentford offered a solid goal threat last season as they recorded 48 efforts from 38 games for the 11th-best record. But Frank saw Ivan Toney hit the net 12 times, while Yoane Wissa hit home seven. Toney also only offered three goals in open play, along with five penalties.
So, Frank should look to boost Brentford’s goal threat by re-signing his former player Neal Maupay from Brighton & Hove Albion. The Seagulls signed the striker for £20m in 2019 on a four-year contract. But as he is now in the final 12 months, Graham Potter could cash in.
Maupay became an increasingly peripheral presence at the Amex last term, despite being their joint-top-scorer with eight league goals. The 25-year-old only started one of his final four outings in their last eight games, and played no part in wins at Arsenal or Tottenham.
Brentford should take punt and re-sign Konsa as former player nears injury return
Brentford should take a punt and re-sign Ezri Konsa from Aston Villa as their former player nears a return from injury. The centre-half recently returned to training on grass pitches as he rehabilitates from a knee injury that is likely to keep him out of action until late August.
Konsa joined the Villans from the Bees in 2019 for £12m just a year after he arrived in west London from Charlton Athletic for £2.5m. His sole season at Brentford returned 47 games, while since featuring 99 times for Villa. But he is now likely to fall out of favour next season.
Steven Gerrard has moved to improve his defence by agreeing a £26m transfer with Sevilla for Diego Carlos. The Brazilian will overtake Konsa in his pecking order – creating a window for Frank to re-sign the former Brentford defender, who played 29 league games last term.
Brentford can weaken relegation rival Bournemouth with Mepham return
Frank will hope Brentford are not in a relegation fight next season, but can weaken a rival for the drop in Bournemouth by re-signing Chris Mepham. The centre-back has now helped the Cherries seal a return to the top-flight after ending last term as Championship runners-up.
Mepham played 22 league fixtures under Scott Parker, and will now offer the south coast side Premier League experience. The 24-year-old made 25 top-flight outings after moving to Dean Court from Brentford in January 2019 for £12m, mainly later limited by a knee injury.
Yet despite Mepham’s previous in the top-flight, Parker could favour alternative defenders having only played him five times in 2022. So, the 31-cap Wales international may consider a move away from the south coast before the World Cup, and still has a long future ahead.
Frank can bolster Bees core with Schlupp as Crystal Palace eye £20m raid
Brentford can strengthen their core by re-signing Jeffrey Schlupp, with Crystal Palace likely moving on from the player this summer. Patrick Vieira is in the market for new midfielders at Selhurst Park, as talkSPORT claim the Eagles are hopeful of signing Morgan Gibbs-White.
Vieira believes Gibbs-White can fill the void Conor Gallagher left after returning to parent club Chelsea. So much so that Crystal Palace have now overtaken Everton and Nottingham Forest in the race for a £20m deal with Wolves after Gibbs-White’s loan at Sheffield United.
The Eagles’ spending is set to continue, as well, having courted an £8m deal with Swansea City for Flynn Downes, per the Daily Mail. But West Ham have hi-jacked their move, as Sky Sports now report the 23-year-old is set for a medical ahead of a £12m move to the Irons.
Schlupp, then, faces an uncertain future in south London, so should head west and re-sign for Brentford 11 years after spending a season on loan at the club. The 29-year-old would offer vast experience, and played 32 league games last term for four goals and two assists.
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