Some clubs react differently to losing their best players.
However, Brentford plan for it.
And every single time, the Bees had already identified the next piece of the puzzle.
Brentford eye teenage wonderkid as Igor Thiago successor
According to TEAMtalk, Brentford have taken a strong interest in Matviy Ponomarenko, a 20-year-old striker from Dynamo Kyiv who is rapidly establishing himself as one of the most exciting young forwards in European football.
The plan is straightforward.
If Thiago leaves Ponomarenko is the man they want to bring in to fill that void.
Brentford have done this before, with the likes of Ivan Toney and Ollie Watkins; recently with Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa.
The reason for the excitement is clear enough.
His recent form has been extraordinary.
Nine goals in his last ten league appearances for Dynamo Kyiv has shifted scouting reports from routine monitoring to urgent interest across Europe.
He capped an exceptional few weeks with a senior international debut for Ukraine in March, scoring in stoppage time against Sweden to announce himself on the biggest stage available to him.
Dynamo Kyiv have extended his contract until December 2028 and are seeking a fee of around €25 million.
That’s a number that is expected to climb as the window approaches.
However, clubs involved are unlikely to pay significantly above that figure regardless of how his stock continues to rise.
Thiago himself has 24 goals in 35 appearances this season.
He’s challenging Erling Haaland for the Premier League Golden Boot.
The fee required to prise him away from the Gtech Community Stadium will be significant.
But Brentford have made it clear they won’t be rushed.
And with Ponomarenko already in their sights, they aren’t going into this summer unprepared.
They never do.
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