Manager Thomas Frank refused to be drawn on the future of Albion target Neal Maupay after last season’s top scorer was left out of Brentford's 1-0 loss to Birmingham.

The Seagulls want to take Maupay into the Premier League and are thought to be leading contenders for his signature.

Frank has said he expects transfer activity at the Bees before Thursday's transfer window shuts but batted away questions about Maupay's future after the opening day defeat.

Frank said: “I am the head coach and the directors of football deal with that, so you need to ask them.”

Frank revealed Maupay, who has scored 37 league goals for Brentford since his 2017 arrival, was not in the squad because he missed pre-season due to the ongoing uncertainty surrounding his future at Griffin Park.

Bees skipper Pontus Jansson, who made his debut after making his summer switch from Leeds United, wants the frontman to stay.

Jansson said: "We all want him to stay because he is such a good striker.

"All of us want the window to close and then after that we won't need these questions.

"For me, he is one of the best strikers in the league so I want him to stay at Brentford."