Brentford striker Ivan Toney has been linked with a move to Manchester United this summer, but it sounds like he could be headed to Saudi Arabia.
The only reason that the Saudi Pro League is a possibility stems from the fact Toney has yet to receive any formal offers from big clubs in the Premier League, or beyond, across Europe.
For instance, Toney would jump at the opportunity to join United. Except that would take a lot to happen. Brentford would have to lower their demands which are believed to be around £40m for the player, who has one year left on his deal, and we’d likely need to sell a few players first.
Brentford rejected a £35m bid for the 28-year-old from Al-Ahli last week, as per Sky Sports.
Former Premier League striker Chris Sutton has now urged Toney to not “waste” his career by moving to Saudi at 28. He thinks the England international should push for a transfer to United instead.
“At this stage of his career, I think Saudi is a no-no,” said Sutton via BBC Sport
He has proven himself in the Premier League and he has all the attributes. His link up, his physicality, set-piece [ability] and his all-round play have developed really well.
“You can have all the money in the world but this is Ivan Toney at his peak and I would like to see him stay in the Premier League. I would go to Saudi Arabia when I was 35 and past it.”
“This is such a waste for Ivan Toney. That doesn’t mean he can’t go to Saudi and then come back to the Premier League, but why doesn’t he just wait another season and then get a move? He’s 28, his career was flourishing, then he had the ban, but then he had the high of the Euros at the summer.
“He is in a really good place at the moment. From Brentford’s point of view, at £50million, you can understand why they would sell him for that amount with a year left on his contract. Purely from a footballing perspective, that would be such a waste of him going to Saudi. Manchester United are striker-less at this moment in time, he would be a good fit there.”
Toney was left out of Brentford’s squad for their Premier League curtain-raiser against Crystal Palace last weekend. Thomas Frank admitted in a pre-match interview that the decision was made due to transfer links. In other words, the striker’s head has been turned by interest elsewhere.
United’s priority for the remainder of the transfer window is to sign a defensive midfielder. Paris Saint-Germain’s Manuel Ugarte is the primary target and talks are underway, with it being understood that the Uruguay international has already agreed personal terms with the Reds.
With four signings made this summer, it remains to be seen if United can squeeze another one or two through the door.
Word on the street: Toney off to Saudi
In a column for Caught Offside, respected football agent Jon Smith shares his opinion on Toney and what he has heard about the striker’s future.
“I’m pretty convinced now, after everything that I’m hearing, that Ivan Toney is on his way to Saudi Arabia.
“Now the interesting thing about that is, under Islamic law, alcohol and betting are two major sins. He’s paid the price for his betting issue, but it’s an interesting dichotomy of when does a sin not become a sin anymore? Certainly, he’s going to have to be very, very careful.
“And it’s also an interesting decision isn’t it, because one would hope that the Saudi league is going to be successful and one assumes that the Gulf states will be promoting themselves heavily in the football world in the coming years, but it’s still considered to be a footballing backwater at present.
He’s probably chosen the financial route rather than the footballing one and I think he runs the risk of people saying ‘ok he was good, but he went for the money,’ and underplaying his role in the Premier League to date.
“Personally, I was amazed when I was in Saudi in terms of how enthusiastic the audiences locally are, and I’m hoping that the experience produces an enjoyment for Ivan Toney on a par with the rest of the world’s football.
“The Toney’s are a nice family, and I wish them well.”
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