Manchester United are reportedly plotting a move for Brentford striker Ivan Toney, with sources suggesting the club is keen to bolster its attacking options.
Toney – who is also being courted by Chelsea and Saudi Arabian side Al Ahli – is seen as an ideal candidate to address the Red Devils’ ongoing issues in front of goal.
According The Standard, preliminary conversations between United and Brentford have taken place with the two clubs discussing a potential deal for the 28-year-old.
However, the Red Devils have not yet tabled an offer for Toney – despite there being just two days left in the summer transfer window.
Erik ten Hag‘s side will also have to battle it out with Chelsea, as the Blues have reportedly made a move to sign the striker.
The Blues are said to be looking to add a proven goal-scorer to their ranks for the 2024-2025 season and believe Toney could be a good fit, according to Sky Sports.
According to Sky Sports, Toney will ‘fit into Chelsea’s wage structure’ and the transfer fee for the 28-year-old ‘will be reasonable’.
However, the addition of Toney would see Chelsea’s squad size inflate further – having already been criticised for having too many players.
Manchester United’s interest in Toney comes as they continue to search for a reliable goal scorer amid their growing list of injuries.
Mason Mount was the latest player to join the injury bench after being substituted at half-time against Brighton.
Luke Shaw, Rasmus Hojlund and Victor Lindelof are also a long way off returning while Leny Yoro and Tyrell Malacia are hoping to return to the squad soon.
Thankfully, Joshua Zirkzee has been available for Ten Hag but he is still struggling to field his best side despite significant investment in the summer transfer window.
Additionally, Danish striker Hojlund has struggled to live up to expectations from Atalanta – struggling to deliver the desired results over the last year.
Marcus Rashford, who was United’s top scorer previous seasons, has also struggled to replicate his form, leaving the team overly reliant on Bruno Fernandes and occasional contributions from other midfielders.
Therefore, the lack of a reliable, experienced striker has been glaringly evident, especially in key matches where United have struggled to break down defenses.
As a result, Manchester United are looking to pip Chelsea and Al Ahli to Toney’s signature this summer.
But, Al Ahli are reportedly willing to offer Toney a three-year deal, which would see him join the likes of Edouard Mendy, Riyad Mahrez and Roberto Firmino in Saudi Arabia.
Should the deal with Al Ahli not materialise, Toney has made it clear he still wants to leave Brentford. However, he is running out of time to get a deal done.
Toney is hoping wherever he ends up, he can further his career – having started at Northampton Town before earning a move to Newcastle United in 2015.
However, he struggled to break into Newcastle’s first team and was loaned to various lower-league clubs to gain more regular minutes.
His breakthrough came at Peterborough United, where he became a prolific goal-scorer, which earned him a move to Brentford in 2020.
At Brentford, Toney excelled, breaking the Championship single-season scoring record and helping the club secure promotion to the Premier League.
He continued his impressive form in the English top-flight, cementing his reputation as one of England’s most clinical strikers.
However, Toney’s career hit a setback in 2023 when he was handed an eight-month ban from football after being found guilty of breaching the Football Association’s betting rules.
The 28-year-old was charged with 232 betting offenses between 2017 and 2021, during his time with various clubs. An extra 30 charges were added a month later.
Toney admitted to the majority of the breaches, leading to his eight-month suspension from the sport and a £50,000 fine.
Brentford stood by Toney during the incident and he returned to the club once allowed to do so. However, it seems his future lies elsewhere.
Source:www.dailymail.co.uk