Toney is the perfect striker for Man Utd on ONE condition

Robin Bairner

• Updated: 15 Apr 2024 07:42 BST
• 9 min read

Manchester United have been linked with a potential summer transfer for Brentford striker Ivan Toney once again.

Toney was associated with a move to Man Utd for much of last summer before the Red Devils ultimately completed a deal for Rasmus Hojlund.

Along with Chelsea and Arsenal, links to the Old Trafford club re-emerged around the January transfer window only to be brushed aside when it became evident that Brentford were asking for in excess of €115 million (£100m) for the England striker.

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Current ETV

Ivan Toney

F (CRL)

Brentford FC

Ivan Toney

F (CRL)

Brentford FC

€19.2M

ETV Range

€14.4M - €24M

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The Bees’ stance has since changed. Their asking price for Toney, who has little over a year left on his contract, has been slashed to around €47m.

And with this, the 29-year-old is suddenly back on Man Utd’s radar. The Mirror reports that the Old Trafford side are “dark horses” in the race for the forward.

With Toney’s price having been slashed, he has become a viable option for the Red Devils again.

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Toney to Man Utd a deal that makes sense

There is much to like a potential Toney to Man Utd transfer.

Crucially, he would bring another high-quality option in the No.9 role, a position that they struggled to get any change from until Hojlund found his feet in the second half of the season. But when the Dane has been injured, Erik ten Hag is notably short on numbers.

There is also the prospect of Toney’s competition accelerating Hojlund’s progress as a player. The England forward has shown admirable persistence in reaching the top of the game relatively late in his career, and this attitude can only be positive for the former Atalanta striker to witness at first hand.

But equally the drawback of a move for Toney is precisely that the striking hierarchy could be upset.

Career development of Hojlund and Toney

In the short term, this is no bad thing for Man Utd, who have a need for quality competition. Yet the arrival of Toney must not be allowed to derail the development of Hojlund, who looks the long-term future of the club.

Data analytics firm SciSports indicate that Hojlund has the capacity to become among the best five centre-forwards in the world. At his absolute maximum, the firm believes that he can become as good as Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane, who leads the European Golden Boot presently.

Everything that INEOS do with regards the No.9 role this summer should be based around the target of Hojlund reaching this level.

That means a new centre-forward should bring competition, but perhaps not too much competition.

Toney at €47m would seem to fit the bill.