Ivan Toney: Why Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham aren't moving for Brentford striker amid Saudi Arabia interest

"If Brentford decided to sell me and cash in, I would happily move to Madrid without any issues!"

In March, Ivan Toney shared his dream summer with Sky Sports News. First, he wanted to secure Brentford's spot in the Premier League, which they did. Next, he aimed to be a contender for Euro 2024, which he achieved. While winning the Euros was within reach, he also expressed a desire for Brentford to sell him to a bigger club.

The previous opportunity did not materialize. The only team to have shown interest in him this summer is Al Ahli in the Saudi Pro League. Even though Saudi football offers lucrative opportunities, it was not the desired level he was seeking initially.

Jamie Redknapp said on Sky Sports that a year ago, he had more opportunities than he does now. We were expecting him to join Arsenal, but that didn't happen. Chelsea has considered him but ultimately decided not to pursue him.

We recommend using the Chrome browser for better access to the video player.

Everyone is aware of Toney's ability. In the previous season, he managed to score 20 goals in the Premier League for Brentford. Despite missing a significant portion of the following season because of a betting suspension, he still performed well enough to not only make it onto England's Euro 2024 team but also play a crucial role in it.

His performance as a substitute for the England national team increased his value more than ever before. However, why is there no longer any interest in transferring Toney?

Is Toney Concerned About The Transfer Market?

We recommend using the Chrome browser to access the video player more easily.

Similar to the mention of Madrid earlier, Toney has been very open about his wish to join a larger club, both in public and in private.

With only one year remaining on his contract and his betting ban behind him, everyone, including Toney himself, has been anticipating his departure this summer. However, there are several obstacles standing in the way of a significant transfer for him.

First thing to consider is his age: the striker will turn 29 during the season. Major clubs like Chelsea and Arsenal are interested in signing younger forwards.

When it comes to Arsenal, it was clear right before the transfer window opened that they were shifting their focus away from experienced players like Toney and Alexander Isak. Instead, they were looking for someone they could help grow and improve under Mikel Arteta, like Joshua Zirkzee, who ended up signing with Manchester United.

Anyway, Arsenal currently has Kai Havertz as their top choice striker, who has been involved in 17 goals in 14 matches. Additionally, Gabriel Jesus and Eddie Nketiah are still part of the team, so the club has a good selection of strikers for the time being.

Chelsea is looking for young players like Jhon Duran and Samu Omorodion. They are also interested in Victor Osimhen, who is only 25 years old, three years younger than Toney.

Tottenham has been focusing on signing younger players, and their recent acquisition, Dominic Solanke, is 26 years old, making him two years younger than Toney.

Another factor is his estimated value, believed to be between £60m and £65m, even though he only has one year remaining on his contract. Additionally, market regulations, specifically PSR rules, have limited the level of interest he would typically receive.

Top clubs are now opting to sign young players who have the potential to increase in value and are willing to accept lower wages. This allows the clubs to be financially savvy and have the chance to make a profit in the long run.

In the past, the best clubs would quickly sign a star player like Toney when he was at his best - a player who had represented England - especially when he only had a year left on his contract, even at the age of 28. However, things are different now.

Toney is being considered by several Premier League clubs and teams across Europe. With only one year remaining on his contract, he is becoming a highly sought-after free transfer option for next year.

Is Toney Considering Moving To Saudi Arabia?

Indeed, when it comes to money, Saudi Arabia is very attractive. The amount of money a player can make in that league is enough for Toney to take care of himself and his loved ones for the rest of their lives. The tempting financial opportunities would be hard for the striker to resist.

The degree of competitiveness in that area is a completely different issue.

In a perfect scenario, Toney would transfer to a prestigious club in the Premier League or Europe, but ultimately a player can only choose from the options available to them.

Right now, the only two options for the player are either joining Al Ahli, where there is a lot of interest, or remaining at Brentford until either January or the end of his contract.

Toney also needs to consider how moving to Saudi Arabia would affect his chances of playing for England. Jordan Henderson's time playing for the national team declined after he decided to join Al Ettifaq, even though he eventually left the Saudi Pro League to join Ajax.

With that being mentioned, Aymeric Laporte from Al Nassr began playing for Spain in their victory at Euro 2024, while N'Golo Kante of Al Ittihad excelled for France. Toney could use these instances as validation for considering a move to Saudi Arabia.

Is Toney Necessary For Brentford?

For easier viewing, we recommend using the Chrome browser when accessing the video player.

There was a lot of worry at the Gtech Community Stadium on Sunday when Toney unexpectedly did not play in Brentford's first Premier League match against Crystal Palace.

Thomas Frank's team started the season without their top two strikers because their most expensive player, Igor Thiago, is injured with a meniscus injury from the pre-season. Thiago won't be able to play until the end of the year.

Just like last season, when their key player was unable to play due to his betting suspension, Brentford's attacking trio performed well in his place.

Datawrapper is responsible for this content and may use cookies and other technologies. In order to display this content, we require your consent to use cookies. You can adjust your preferences by clicking the buttons below to enable Datawrapper cookies or to allow them temporarily. You can change your settings anytime through the Privacy Options. We are currently unable to confirm if you have agreed to Datawrapper cookies. To view the content, you can click the button below to allow Datawrapper cookies for this session.

Toney's job at Brentford involves doing well at holding and linking up the play, as well as being strong in the air, to move his team forward on the field. However, in the game against Palace, Yoane Wissa took on the unselfish role of the No 9 position that manager Frank prefers to use.

The player from Congo drew more fouls than any other player on the field during the game against the Eagles. His goal demonstrated Wissa's impressive skills as a striker, and his assist to help Brian Mbeumo score showcased his great teamwork on the field that day.

In terms of the ability to win balls in the air, Kevin Schade from Brentford outperformed all other players. While Brentford prefers to have Toney as their starting forward, they can still execute their game plan effectively even without him.

"Frank mentioned that Mbeumo, Wissa, and Schade were the key players in today's game," as he believed they were the ones who stood out the most.

We are aware that Ivan is a highly skilled and valuable member of our team. Perhaps adding another striker in the final five minutes would have been a good move.

We recommend using the Chrome browser to easily access the video player.

"I realized then that Wissa and Mbeumo had the potential to make a significant impact, and I am thrilled that they were able to do so once more today."

Brentford has successfully adjusted to the departure of important players in the past, such as Ollie Watkins, Said Benrahma, and David Raya.

And with their top three players all playing well, along with Thiago set to come back later in the season, it seems like the Bees will manage well whether Toney is in the team or not.

Where the striker will end up remains uncertain, as there is less than two weeks left in the transfer window.

This Sunday, August 25th, the game will start at 4:00pm with the kick off at 4:30pm.

Is Ivan Toney going to play for Brentford when they go to Liverpool? You can watch the game live on Sky Sports this Sunday at 4:30pm.