Arsenal and West Ham £100m target attracts Manchester United interest
Ivan Toney, an England striker who plays for Brentford, was first targeted by Arsenal, then by West Ham, and now by Manchester United. The 28-year-old, who was suspended for eight months for breaking FA betting regulations, recovered well and recently scored his first goal for England in the Three Lions’ 2-2 draw with Belgium.
The Red Devils are reportedly still in the very early phases of deciding on their transfer strategy, but in the wake of Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s recent investment, a number of names have already been mentioned. With the hope of relieving some of the strain currently placed on 26-year-old Marcus Rashford and rising sensation Rasmus Hojlund, Toney has emerged as the newest name.
Regarding Toney’s circumstances, Fabrizio Romano told CaughtOffSide, “It’s just one of the options to be considered and discussed internally.” Man United is still deciding which striker, if any, they want to sign—a youngster or an experienced one—as I have stated numerous times here. Internal discussions are going to occur. Toney is going to be one of the names on the market, so keep an eye on him.”
Of course, with Thomas Frank determined to call it quits at the end of this campaign, Toney has been receiving a tonne of interest in recent months. However, it does indicate that Manchester United’s league opponents will present them with intense competition, as West Ham is apparently preparing a “raid” for the former Newcastle player.
In related news
£45m the right price for England star
The right price for an overpriced Toney is £45 million.
In recent days, a lot of information on Ivan Toney’s possible transfer to West Ham has been published. It’s difficult to determine whether the lack of news this week is indeed a result of international football or whether there is actual interest.
Toney performed admirably in England’s 2-2 draw with Belgium yesterday night, scoring a penalty for his country. While I acknowledge that he is a gifted player and a proficient penalty taker, I cannot shake the feeling that Brentford is overpaying for him for £70 million.
The right price for an overpriced Toney is £45 million.
Given his recent suspension for betting violations and his low resale value at age 28, signing Toney carries some risk. It seems unlikely that major league teams like Manchester City or Liverpool will pay a premium for him, even though he is a quality forward in my opinion.
For someone like Toney, West Ham seems like the ideal fit. But I doubt anyone would match Brentford’s asking price given how tightly financial restrictions are enforced.
Toney is undoubtedly worth pursuing by West Ham, but I think a more reasonable price would be between £40 and £45 million. If not, given the state of the market, Brentford might have trouble finding a buyer. Players’ values are expected to decline as Financial Fair Play restrictions are enforced more strictly, and clubs will need to make adjustments in response.
