Ivan Toney: Which clubs could sign the Brentford striker? | OneFootball

Ivan Toney looks likely to leave Brentford in the summer with the forward having made no secret of his desire for a new challenge.

The 28-year-old has been the shining light for the Bees since promotion into the Premier League and has broken into the England set-up as a result. Toney has scored 36 goals in 79 top-flight appearances for the west Londoners, a return that has earned him a considerable list of admirers.

He will enter the final 12 months of his contract at Brentford in the summer and is expected to be sold as the club look to cash in before his deal expires.

Florian Plettenberg of Sky Germany has claimed that Brentford’s asking price could be as low as £30m-£40m given his contract situation, a figure that is sure to pique the interest of Premier League rivals.

We’ve looked at the clubs who could be in contention to sign Toney this summer.

Arsenal

Arsenal’s search for a centre-forward is no secret and Mikel Arteta has admitted the club’s recent goalscoring form has not changed those plans. The Gunners are the leading scorers in the Premier League this season (75), though there remains a sense that Arsenal lack a difference-maker in the penalty box.

Gabriel Jesus and Eddie Nketiah have combined for just nine league goals in underwhelming campaigns, with Kai Havertz having deputised, impressively in recent weeks, in a centre-forward role.

Toney has been linked with a move across the capital in recent months, though an initial asking price in excess of £60m was deemed to have cooled Arsenal’s interest. However, reports that Brentford have slashed that figure could see the Gunners re-join the race. Toney represents a cheaper option than either Napoli’s Victor Osimhen or Sporting Lisbon striker Viktor Gyokeres, each of whom have release clauses over £85m.

Chelsea

Chelsea could look to raid their west London neighbours and sign Toney in the summer window. The Blues have endured another disappointing domestic campaign and sit ninth in the Premier League table, with Mauricio Pochettino’s team facing an uphill challenge to secure European qualification.

Pochettino has lacked options in the final third this season with an over-reliance on Cole Palmer for goals. Nicolas Jackson has scored nine times in the Premier League in a mixed debut season in English football, and the Senegalese striker remains raw. Toney would add a Premier League-proven option to complement Chelsea’s forward line, adding a different style of focal point.

Chelsea, however, require sales to avoid breaching the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability (PSR) rules, and their immediate focus on outgoings could see the Blues fall behind in the race for the England international.

Manchester United

Goals have been an issue for Manchester United in a substandard second season for Erik ten Hag. The Red Devils are the lowest scorers inside the Premier League’s top half, with their 45 goals the same amount as Luton – sat in the relegation places – have managed to date.

Rasmus Hojlund arrived from Atalanta in a £72m deal last summer and has shown enough to suggest he can be the centre-forward to build around, though the 21-year-old is still learning his trade and has mixed fine performances with ineffective displays.

The addition of an experienced option would alleviate some of the pressure on the Dane, and United are expected to enter the market for a centre-forward as Anthony Martial’s contract expires this summer.

Newcastle

Could Toney return to Tyneside?

The forward signed for Newcastle from Northampton Town as a teenager but failed to earn an opportunity at St James’ Park, featuring just twice in the Premier League. After several loan stints, he joined Peterborough, a move that kickstarted his rise from England’s third tier to international football.

Newcastle posted a loss of £73.4m loss for the 2022/23 season and have internally accepted that a big name could be sold this summer to remain on the right side of the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability regulations.

Alexander Isak has been mentioned as a potential outgoing and would cost interested clubs in excess of £75m, funds that could be reinvested into the signing of Toney.

The Magpies are expected to pursue an additional forward regardless of Isak’s future, with both the Swedish striker and Callum Wilson having struggled with fitness problems. Wilson, who turned 32 in February, has started just eight league games this season. Newcastle have also been linked with Bournemouth’s Dominic Solanke.

West Ham

Brentford’s drop in valuation could allow West Ham into the race. The Hammers have enquired into the availability of the forward this summer, as David Moyes looks to end the club’s striker search.

The East Londoners have struggled to find a fit at centre-forward in recent campaigns with the big-money additions of Sebastien Haller and Gianluca Scamacca having failed to work out. The long-serving Michail Antonio has also struggled for form and fitness this season, netting just four times in the Premier League, and at 34 needs to be replaced soon rather than later.

Toney’s ambitions might exceed West Ham, but with the Premier League’s top teams considering alternatives there is an argument that the Irons could be an ideal fit. The East Londoners are pushing for a fourth consecutive campaign in Europe next term and possess a cast of creatives in Jarrod Bowen, Lucas Paqueta and Mohammed Kudus who look primed to service a reliable goalscorer.

Toney’s excellence in the air – he led the Premier League among centre-forwards for aerial duels won in 2022/23 – will also appeal to Moyes, who will appreciate that value in both boxes.

Read – Which clubs could claim the extra Champions League places?

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