Brentford are lining up potential striker options in the January transfer window in case Ivan Toney is hit with a significant ban.
The forward had originally been charged over 232 alleged breaches of betting rules in November and on Tuesday was charged with a further 30 alleged breaches of FA betting rules.
Brentford are doing due diligence on potential targets for next month but options are expected to be limited for director of football Phil Giles and his technical director Lee Dykes due to the specific set of requirements they need in these unique circumstances.
The club needs someone with Premier League experience, who can potentially hit the ground running with the goals necessary to maintain Brentford’s good form this season or at least secure their top-flight status.
They do not yet know whether or for how long Toney could be banned, so convincing a player with these credentials to commit to them for a short period will be challenging.
Clubs are reluctant to let go of good players – even those who are mostly on the bench – because they never know when they might be needed. Brentford do not pay huge wages either, so may need the assistance of the parent club should a loan be the most viable route.
However, Brentford have shown through the summer signing of Ben Mee that they are covering the market for experienced players that can help the team.
Finding one or two potential solutions to the impending problem Toney’s absence is the focus for Giles and Dykes ahead of next month – but they may also continue the club’s philosophy of signing the best young talent available.
Long-term they have been assessing forward players and centre-backs in the main. They had tried to sign Mykhailo Mudryk last summer but his valuation now seems too high.
Toney is cooperating with the FA investigation and will continue to play for Brentford until told otherwise.
On Tuesday evening, an FA spokesperson said: “Ivan Toney has been charged with misconduct in relation to alleged breaches of The FA’s Betting Rules.
“In addition to the previous charge, it is alleged that the Brentford FC forward breached FA Rule E8 a further 30 times between 14 March 2017 and 18 February 2019.
“Ivan Toney has until Wednesday 4 January 2023 to provide a response.”
A statement from Brentford said: “The FA have informed Brentford FC that Ivan Toney has been charged in relation to additional alleged breaches of their betting rules.
“Our private discussions with Ivan and his legal representatives on this matter continue. We will make no further comment at this stage.”
The FA’s legal representatives and those of Toney’s are in the process of going through each betting offence he is alleged to have made.
This is a painstaking process and Toney has the right to respond to each of them individually.
It could therefore take some time for the FA to get to a verdict, which may not come until February or beyond, despite Toney needing to respond to the latest charges by January 4.
The FA assesses these offences on a case-by-case basis, therefore any previous examples of players breaching betting rules are not expected to have a direct bearing on the severity of any punishment Toney might receive.
However, Sky Sports News understands he is facing a ban of at least six months if he is found to have bet on his own team.
It is also understood the probe into these alleged offences has been ongoing for more than seven months.
Toney, who was not included in England’s 26-man World Cup squad, had previously revealed he had been assisting the FA with its enquiries amid allegations he gambled on matches.
After a report in the Daily Mail claimed he had been the subject of an FA investigation, he tweeted on November 5: “I’m aware of a story about me in a national newspaper today.
“I have been assisting the Football Association with their enquiries and will not be making any comment until such investigation has reached its conclusion.”