When reports emerged earlier this week suggesting that one of the finest goalscorers in the Premier League could be available for as little of £30 million this summer, the ears of Manchester United supporters pricked up like those of a hungry dog hearing the rustle of a crisp bag.
A striker who hit the target 20 times in England’s top flight last term – and 117 times across the previous five seasons combined – was reportedly up for sale for around a third of the price the Red Devils had been quoted in January.
But if that felt too good to be true, then that’s probably because it was, Manchester United fans
Brentford boss Thomas Frank, speaking ahead of Saturday’s 3pm kick-off with a doomed Sheffield United outfit in West London, as much as confirmed confirmed that the rumours surrounding Ivan Toney‘s supposed £30 million price-tag are good for nothing except tomorrow’s fish and chip paper.
Manchester United like Brentford striker Ivan Toney
“Normally I don’t go into these price labels,” Toney told The Standard. “But I would say that (£30 million) is very cheap for a 20-goal goalscorer in the Premier League.”
Of course, Brentford won’t exactly be negotiating from a position of strength when it comes to the England international’s future. Toney has spent much of the last year telling anyone who will listen just how desperate he is to represent one of Europe’s A-list clubs.
Manchester United, despite falling on hard times post-Sir Alex Ferguson, certainly still fall into that category.
What’s more, Toney is due to become a free-agent in 2025. While £30 million may be too cheap – Brentford may be forced to consider offers in the region of £50 million. Such a sum potentially represents superb value for money.
This is, after all, a proven 20-goal-a-season striker we are talking about. An ambitious, highly-technical centre-forward at the peak of his powers, having only turned 28 in March. Opportunities like this do not come around all too often.
But will Man United really consider spending £50 million on another centre-forward when they already have Rasmus Hojlund? The Red Devils are expected to sign a striker this summer but there must also be room in the budget for at least one new centre-half, a left-back, a winger and a couple of midfielders.
Bees want at least £50 million for England striker
For Lee Sharpe, the former Manchester United favourite, spending £50 million on another centre-forward would almost be like buying a new flat-screen TV while you’ve got a gaping hole where the front door should be.
“When you consider that Man United have almost allowed more shots on their own goal this season than any team in the Premier League, I don’t think Ivan Toney is going to help,” Sharpe tells Tribal Football amid reports that the £50 million-rated Brentford talisman remains on the Red Devils’ radar.
“(Toney) might come in and score a hat-trick every week. But, if United are giving the chances away like they are, they could let in three or four themselves.
“I think both ends of the team need to be looked at.”