Anthony produced nine goals and four assists in 38 appearances for Burnley last season, but faces dropping to the Championship after the Clarets were relegated from the Premier League. His preference is to remain in the top flight, and Brentford have moved to the head of the queue.
The move carries personal appeal for Anthony. He is a Londoner who began his career in Arsenal's academy before leaving without a senior appearance in 2016. Loan spells at Weymouth and Leeds United helped him find his feet before he established himself at AFC Bournemouth, where he became a reliable Premier League option on the left flank.
He joined Burnley on loan from Bournemouth in 2024, with the deal becoming permanent last summer following promotion to the Premier League. An obligation-to-buy clause of £8 million was triggered at that point. The fee Burnley are now seeking reflects the profit available on a player whose stock rose steadily through the season despite the club's relegation.
Brentford manager Keith Andrews considers Anthony a good fit for his style of play. The club have already recruited this summer, having signed defender Jannik Schuster from RB Salzburg in a deal worth up to £16 million including add-ons.
Anthony gives Brentford a versatile left-sided option with Premier League pedigree at a fee that suits the club's model of smart acquisition below the elite tier. The deal is not yet concluded, but the direction of travel is clear.
Brentford finished tenth in the Premier League last season, their fourth consecutive campaign in the top flight since promotion in 2021. Andrews is building his first summer squad with a clear focus on athletic, high-energy players, and Anthony's combination of pace, work rate and end product meets those criteria.