A number of major clubs are said to be interested in signing Ivan Toney as he prepares to return after serving an eight-month betting ban for breaching the Premier League’s gambling policy. [Image: Shutterstock.com]
A highly anticipated return
Ivan Toney’s return to the Premier League is on the horizon. The 27-year-old will soon be eligible to play again for Brentford after serving an eight-month ban for 232 gambling-related offences.
Tony was out over the weekend for Brentford’s Under-23s
The striker has not played a senior game since May, so fans will be watching closely to see what kind of form he performs when he returns against Nottingham Forest on January 20. Tony featured over the weekend for Brentford’s Under-23s. He scored a hat-trick during a 5-1 win over Southampton.
In an interview with Sky SportsTony stressed that he wanted to repay his team for standing by his side during his problems by helping to secure their stay in the first division. Brentford currently sit in 16thy A place in the Premier League.
Despite this commitment, several top English clubs are showing interest in signing the England international. He has made it clear in the past that he wants to play for a team that is competing to win titles.
With another two weeks left in the January transfer window, Brentford are said to want around £100 million ($127 million) for the Northampton native. Here are Tony’s possible destinations according to sportsbooks:
Arsenal
Arsenal’s title challenge ran out last year after topping the table for most of the season, and the club appear to be following a similar trend this time around. Recent performances highlight the need for another goal-scoring threat, with the team having only scored five goals in their past seven matches.
While Gabriel Jesus has been a good signing since joining the club from Manchester City, he has not scored goals. The same goes for Kai Havertz, who arrived in the summer for £65 million ($83 million) from Chelsea. The German striker’s problems are well documented, as he has scored on just four occasions in 19 Premier League appearances this season.
He’s always loved Arsenal
Toney could be the answer to these problems as he finished third in the Premier League’s top scorers list last year. He also said in an interview on CEO Diaries podcast that although he’s been supporting Liverpool since he was a kid, he’s always loved Arsenal too. He admires the club’s style of play and passionate fan base.
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has poured cold water on rumors that the team will get a striker in the January window, saying on Sunday night after his side’s FA Cup loss to Liverpool that “at the moment, it doesn’t seem realistic.”
Chelsea
Another team in need of a prolific striker is Chelsea. While the club has made several important signings in this department over the past few years, most have not been successful. Acquiring pesky strikers like Roman Lukaku and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang were particularly disastrous moves.
The team has relied on the diversity of scorers so far this season, and its return on expected goals is the second worst in the league, which reflects these struggles.
A great potential addition for Chelsea
Journalist Simon Phillips reports that Brentford are interested in Chelsea striker Armando Broga. Including the Albanian international in a transfer bid for Toni could sweeten the deal and put him ahead of Arsenal in any type of bidding war. Toney’s ability to keep the ball and be an outlet in the danger area makes him a great potential addition for Chelsea.
Manchester United
Like Chelsea, Manchester United is an iconic club that has struggled in recent years. The frequent change of managers and a net spending of £609 million ($775 million) on new players over the past five seasons has not worked out well.
Fans constantly talk about the team owners and the downfall of the club in general. Jim Ratcliffe bought a 25% stake in the club over the Christmas period, leaving fans hopeful that more money will soon become available to manager Erik ten Hag and his transfer advisers.
United currently do not have a clear top scorer on their books. Marcus Rashford has struggled so far this year, while Dutch youngster Rasmus Hoglund has scored just one goal in 15 league games since joining in July for £72 million ($92 million).
Other clubs have also reportedly shown interest in Toney, including Liverpool, Newcastle and Tottenham Hotspur.
The team are said to be looking for a more experienced striker, with Toney fitting the bill well. He is an established player with an ideal age profile. United have largely been signing potential young talent or veterans in recent years, with many of these players unproven at the highest level.
