‘Rico Henry is finished at Brentford’ after source’s new signing reveal
Brentford are keen to strengthen in defence this summer as doubts over Rico Henry’s long-term fitness linger.
Henry has been through the wringer with injuries across the last two seasons, which has seen the 27-year-old manage just eight appearances in total after he ruptured his ACL back in September 2023.
The Bees’ number three’s unavailability has forced Thomas Frank‘s hand to find an alternative in a key part of his system at the Gtech Community Stadium, with Keane Lewis-Potter thrown into the breach.
Lewis-Potter’s transformation from an attack-minded winger into a left-back this season has helped Brentford secure another mid-table finish this season, and that’s seen him nail down a spot in Frank’s XI.
Brentford ‘check on’ long-term Rico Henry replacement
Henry’s two Premier League appearances have both been off the bench as he continues to make his return from a lengthy injury layoff, but his rustiness after so long out hasn’t gone unnoticed at Brentford.
Now, Brentford have their eye on another left-back to take his place long-term. Football Insider revealed earlier on Wednesday that Brentford are keeping tabs on AC Ajaccio defender Arsene Kouassi.
The 20-year-old Burkina Faso international has excelled in Ligue 2 this season and wouldn’t be the first player Brentford have plucked from that level; with the clearest example being star striker Yoane Wissa.
Kouassi would initially only be seen as a squad option for the Bees, but if his impact were to be anything like Wissa’s, Henry’s hopes of a return to the starting left-back role once again would be all-but over.
Brentford ready for transformative summer transfer window
The Bees’ erratic form this season has seen them fluctuate between months-long unbeaten and winless streaks at the Gtech Community Stadium, and Frank’s side are well on course for an 11th-placed finish.
However, the summer is likely to see approaches for both Wissa and top scorer Bryan Mbeumo, as ex-Man United scout Mick Brown told Football Insider that Mbeumo would be a “perfect fit” for Arsenal.
Brown also expects Nottingham Forest to return with a big-money offer for Wissa after failing to sign the Congolese striker in January, but Frank will be desperate to keep at least one of his two frontment and faciliate the arrival of new, potentially uncut gems such as Kouassi this summer.