England international Toney will be free to return to action later this month once he has completed an eight-month suspension for breaching betting regulations, but he has been linked with a move away from Brentford.

Toney scored 32 goals in the Bees' first two seasons in the Premier League but they have struggled without him and a number of injured first-team players this term, with Thomas Frank's side currently four points above the relegation zone.

Sutton told BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club: "If Brentford want to stay in the Premier League, they have to keep Ivan Toney or do everything possible [to keep him]. They've had a phenomenal couple of seasons under Thomas Frank but they're scrapping at this moment in time.

"It's five on the spin that they've lost, that's a bit of a disaster for them. But they'll end up in a relegation battle if they get rid of Ivan Toney."