Despite what the odd social media video might have you believe, Ivan Toney is loving life at Brentford.
So much so that, despite interest from a whole host of established Premier League clubs – including Arsenal, West Ham and former employers Newcastle United – one of this season’s breakthrough stars is keen to commit his future to the division’s prize packages via a new, long-term deal.
90Min add that, in addition to the aforementioned trio, Wolverhampton Wanderers are also keeping a ‘watchful eye’ on a man who’s scored more goals in the top-flight than any other Englishman who’s name doesn’t begin with Harry and end in Kane.
Can Wolves finally land Ivan Toney?
Wolves have missed out on Toney once before. When Bruno Lage was a little-known B-Team coach in the UAE, when John Ruddy was a goalkeeper with England ambitions and Fabio Silva was just 12 years old.
Toney was a failed medical away from completing a £500,000 switch to Molineux all the way back in 2014, when he was a fresh-faced whippersnapper making his name at Northampton Town.
It’s fair to say his market value has increased since then. By no less than £49,500, reportedly.
According to 90Min, Brentford will demand £50 million from any club looking to test Toney’s loyalty.
And with Wolves’ Chinese owners shifting ever more towards a model of self-sustainability and safe spending, £50 million on a single player is just not an investment they will be willing to make.
“I was going to sign for Wolves back in the day,” Toney smiled a few months ago, after turning in a display Kane himself would have been proud of as Brentford triumphed at Molineux, scoring one and setting up the other.
“So that gave me a little bit (of motivation).”
With a World Cup less than six months away – and with Patrick Bamford, Danny Ings, Marcus Rashford, Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Ollie Watkins struggling for various reasons – ‘motivation’ is not something Toney will be short of between now and November.
A ‘World-class’ striker?
“He’s scored goals wherever he’s been. And, in the past few years, he’s been a handful in every game in any league,” former Brentford ace Hermann Hreidarsson tells talkSPORT.
“He’s got a bit of everything. He’s powerful, he’s pacey and skilful. Year-by-year your football IQ goes up.
“He’s a world-class player and it’s down to him. He can go wherever he wants.”
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