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Brazilian striker coup shows a club ahead of the curve: MATT BARLOW on how Brentford stole a march on their Premier League rivals to sign a player who scored 18 goals in just two months

Brentford chose St Valentine's Day to remind us why they have so many secret admirers.

First, the annual accounts were published, with turnover up and profit down but still operating well within their means as they finished ninth, broke the club transfer record three times and saw Ivan Toney capped by England.

Then, the signing of Igor Thiago, a prolific centre forward from Club Bruges, out of the blue in a £31million postscript to a subdued transfer window. Thiago will join Bees in the summer and the replacement will be in the building before the auction for Toney reaches full speed.