Ivan Toney reportedly had one shortcoming which saw him dropped from Manchester United’s shortlist this summer.
The former Brentford striker’s long-running flirtation with a move to a top Premier League club ended on August 30 when he completed a £40million transfer to Al Ahli.
He enjoyed a productive start to life in Saudi Arabia, scoring three goals in four games and nearly winning on his debut against Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr.
In August 2023, he stated that he wanted to “play for a big club and fight for trophies”, but after returning from an eight-month gambling ban, his list of potential suitors narrowed despite the shrinking price tag attached to his name.
This summer, Manchester United signed Joshua Zirkzee from Bologna for £36.5million, while Arsenal opted not to buy a striker.
Ivan Toney reportedly had one flaw that saw him dropped from Man United’s summer shortlist
The former Brentford star left for Saudi club Al-Ahli in a deal worth £40million
United are again struggling to score, with bottom sides Wolves and Everton having scored at least five this season.
They have created 68 chances so far, so the problem is not so much getting into the right positions, but taking them.
The question remains: why didn’t they go for Toney, a proven talent in the Premier League?
According to ESPNhe was taken off Erik ten Hag’s shortlist because he did not put the defenders under pressure with enough energy.
While the Dutch national coach was impressed by the Englishman’s goal-scoring record.
Clubs often think about investing in the future because they want guaranteed immediate success.
Over the past two seasons, United have spent £72m on Rasmus Hojlund, who scored 10 goals in Serie A the year before, and £36.5m on Zirkzee, who will score 11 for Bologna in the 2023-24 season.
It’s a far cry from their policy in 2012, when they signed 29-year-old Robin van Persie from Arsenal for £24m on a £250,000-a-week deal with the mandate to win the Premier League that season, with Wayne Rooney wishing him “welcome to Manchester United mate” on Twitter. Players, as Chelsea have shown, are increasingly being treated as long-term assets.
According to reports, Man United have opted not to sign him because he does not press hard enough
Erik ten Hag has been given younger attackers in Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee
Toney’s best Premier League season so far came in 2022-23, when he scored 20 goals and helped Brentford to ninth place.
Since his prolific spell in League One and the Championship he has been mentioned as an option for top clubs.
However, he has managed just four goals in 17 games since returning from his betting ban, with the Bees coping just fine without him.
Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa have scored seven goals between them this season and pose a serious threat to the attack.
Brentford took the lead in the first minute against Manchester City and Tottenham, but were unable to hold on to their lead on both occasions.