- 2 hours ago
Toney’s Man Utd move will upset EVERYONE - but especially Bruno Fernandes
Robin Bairner
- Updated: 18 Apr 2024 07:02 BST
- 4 min read
Manchester United have rekindled their interest in a transfer for Brentford striker Ivan Toney in recent days, yet a deal for the England international promises to be a prickly political move for the Old Trafford outfit.
Erik ten Hag’s side have been limited to having just a single fit natural centre-forward during the second part of the season, but while Rasmus Hojlund has grown into the No.9 role impressively after arriving from Atalanta last summer, there is a clear need for additional firepower.
Toney has come onto Man Utd’s radar after Brentford dropped their asking price for the 28-year-old star. Having been priced around the £100 million (€115m) mark during January, the Bees are now reportedly willing to accept less than half of that figure to strike a bargain.
READ MORE: When does the contract of every Man Utd player expire?
Transfer Rumour
Ivan Toney
F (CRL)
Brentford FC
Ivan Toney
F (CRL)
Brentford FC
Manchester United
That does not mean, though, that Toney will come cheap. His wage demands are surprisingly high.
According to The Mirror, the centre-forward has named his price at £250,000 per week, which would put him among even Man Utd’s top earners.
His proposed pay packet of £13m per year would exceed that of captain Bruno Fernandes and has the possibility of becoming an explosive bone of contention as INEOS try to settle backroom feuding at Old Trafford.
Indeed, if Casemiro and Raphael Varane leave Man Utd in the summer, only Marcus Rashford at £15.6m would be on a bigger salary. It is a situation that is unlikely to go down well.
READ MORE: Latest Man Utd transfer rumours
Toney’s demands look weak
Toney’s recent form does not justify such an expense. After returning from a betting ban with four goals in five games, he has gone more than two months without finding the net.
Brentford manager Thomas Frank even tried giving his star man the captaincy for three matches, but this did not draw him out of his slump.
Instead, Toney was benched for the 3-3 draw against Aston Villa and did not get a single minute of action against Sheffield United last week.
Meanwhile, the player has admitted that he is open to a summer move, and when asked about his dream end to the season, he said: "I'm in the mix for the Euros and then we win the Euros. Let things fall into the place. If Brentford were to sell me, they'd make their money, I move to Madrid and it's all good."
