New Brentford manager Keith Andrews believes Christian Norgaard’s contribution at Brentford will be “hard to emulate” after the club’s director of football said the captain is “more likely than not” to leave the club this summer.
Arsenal are reportedly close to agreeing a deal to sign the 31-year-old Denmark midfielder.
In addition to potentially losing Norgaard, goalkeeper Mark Flekken has signed for Bayer Leverkusen and leading scorer Bryan Mbeumo has been the subject of several bids from Manchester United.
Brentford still have two months until the September 1 deadline to get deals over the line. However, they may need to look further afield than they did for Ireland goalkeeper Caoimhín Kelleher and Michael Kayode, who has made his loan from Fiorentina permanent.
“I think it’s more likely than not,” said Phil Giles, Brentford’s director of football, of Norgaard’s possible departure. Giles was speaking at the unveiling of Andrews as Brentford boss.
“If he ends up leaving then he goes to a club who have more opportunities than we do and he’s earned it because he’s been an unbelievable player for us.
“Nothing is done as it stands but it’s a strong possibility.”
Andrews added: “Christian has been a really big player for this football club.
“I saw it last year from a set-piece capacity. He’s a top human being and it will be hard to emulate, but it gives opportunities to others.”
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Andrews, who was a set-piece coach at Brentford, has taken over from Thomas Frank in what will be his first managerial role.
Frank ended his seven-year stint in west London to take charge of Tottenham following the sacking of Ange Postecoglou.
Despite being dealt a tricky start to the next Premier League season, with Brentford set to play Nottingham Forest, Aston Villa, Chelsea, Manchester City and Manchester United within their first seven games, Andrews conceded that his lack of experience will not guarantee extra patience from the club hierarchy.
The former Ireland international said: “[I’ve been given] no assurances. I think the reality is that it’s a football club that has been built in a certain way and we have ways to do things which aren’t the norm.
“The support Thomas had throughout his tenure was impeccable. The relations he built were very connected and aligned and I don’t see that being any different.”
Mbeumo is also likely to leave the club this summer, with the 20-goal forward drawing repeated approaches from Manchester United.
“He had a fantastic season,” Giles told the BBC. “We expected big interest in him, we have had big interest in him.
“He has his ideas about where he wants to take his career. He is well within his rights to do that.
“It is not impossible [that] he is still a Brentford player next season if we agree he is going to stay.”
