Man Utd hijack all goes wrong

Carlo Garganese

17 Apr 2024 17:00 BST
3 min read

Sir Jim Ratcliffe, Man Utd, 2023/24 — © IMAGO

Manchester United’s plans to hijack Ivan Toney from Arsenal and Chelsea have not gone to plan.

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That’s according to Ben Jacobs, who reports that there is a good chance that Toney will decide to stay at Brentford for another season and then leave on a free transfer next year.

Arsenal and Chelsea have been going head to head for Toney this summer, with Brentford expected to sell the striker to avoid losing him for nothing at the end of the 2024-25 season.

Recently it has been reported that Man Utd have entered the chase and wish to hijack Arsenal and Chelsea’s moves for the player.

Toney’s contract expires at Brentford in the summer of 2025, but Jacobs says that the striker could wait until then to leave.

What did Jacobs say?

“There is no guarantee Ivan Toney leaves Brentford this summer. He could plausibly wait until 2025 and then be available as a free agent,” Jacobs said on CaughtOffside.

“The issue this summer for many suitors is the combination of fee and Toney’s expected wages, which are understood to be around £250k per week. This number is also why Brentford aren’t close to an extension.

“Toney is still keeping his options open. I don’t think he’ll join either Arsenal or Chelsea. Both have other options higher on their list of possibilities, at least for this summer. Manchester United could still be one to watch, especially if the asking price drops.”

Toney was one of the hottest properties in the January transfer window, with Arsenal and Chelsea both keen to buy him.

The 28-year-old ended up staying at Brentford, but Brentford manager Thomas Frank has since admitted that it is virtually certain that Toney will be sold at the end of the campaign.

As Jacobs says, Chelsea and Arsenal do have other targets on their shortlist such as Viktor Gyokeres, Victor Osimhen and Joshua Zirkzee.