Tottenham would provide the perfect place for Ivan Toney to fight his way into surprise Euro 2024 contention when he resumes his career in January. The 27-year-old is serving an eight month FA ban after he admitted breaking gambling rules. As part of his rehabilitation, he has been allowed back training for the start of the week ahead of his return to action in January.
By that time, he will have 15 months of his contract left, but has been left reeling from what he says is a double-whammy because of the timing of his charge and punishment. Toney was excluded from consideration for international honours while the FA conducted their enquiries.
It came at a time when his star was the ascendancy as one of the top English strikers in the Premier League goalscoring charts with the Qatar World Cup in November and December 2022. That, in turn, he feels denied him a shop window opportunity to attract a major club in the summer, when his punishment finally kicked in.
So keen is he not miss out in January that he recently even switched to agent Jonathan Barnett, who has represented Gareth Bale, Jack Grealish and a host of other big-name Premier League players.
Brentford fully understand Toney’s desire to move on after firing the club to the heady heights of the Premier League and have put a £60m price tag on his head – although they would be happier waiting for the summer to cash in on their prize asset as they make another bid for Europe.
Toney knows the clock is ticking and still harbours hopes of making a late run for Gareth Southgate’s Euros squad – not least because the England manager said the door would be open for him once his suspension had ended.
Manchester United and Arsenal had been linked in the past with moves for Toney, but the former instead have thrown in their lot with Rasmus Hojlund.
At the same time, Gabriel Jesus has overcome his injury concerns and looks very settled as Arsenal’s first-choice front-man. Admittedly, the Brazilian could move wide left, but there is such competition for places in the wide attacking areas at Arsenal that there seems little advantage in that.
Chelsea, on the other hand, are still desperately in need of an old-fashioned no. 9 in the mould of Toney. But Mauricio Pochettino’s side are very much in transition and there is a danger that instead of thriving, Toney could get swallowed up in a bloated squad all battling for places. Which leaves Tottenham.
For all the positivity around White Hart Lane at the moment, replacing Harry Kane remains an issue for manager Ange Postecoglou.
Hopes that Richarlison could step up to the mark have been dashed by poor form and the mental turmoil the Brazil striker admits he has been suffering of late.
With James Maddison to provide the ammunition. Toney would relish the chance to force his way into Southgate’s reckoning with a hatful of Premier League goals and reinvigorate his stalled career.
