Manchester United are on the lookout for a striker this summer, with a lack of depth at the position highlighted recently.
Relying on Anthony Martial as back-up was the riskiest strategy any team has gambled on all season. The Frenchman will be released this summer, and United will hunt for a replacement.
HITC reported this week that Man United are watching Ivan Toney closely with an experienced centre-forward high on the Red Devils’ summer wishlist.
Toney, who broke the 20-goal barrier in the Premier League last season, appears to have little interest in extending his Brentford contract and could therefore be available for a knock-down fee of £50 million.
Why Toney to United works
And while some supporters may have reservations about the prospect of spending £50 million on a player who would not even be a guaranteed starter when Rasmus Hojlund is fit and firing, a club with as many games in the schedule as Man United need more than one centre-forward. Toney, meanwhile, could offer something a little different too, from a tactical perspective.
The late-blooming Brentford talisman is the closest thing England has to another Harry Kane.
Toney is arguably at his best when dropping deep, playing almost as a number ten as well as a number nine, while allowing Bryan Mbuemo and Yoann Wissa to run in behind. This is not to say Rasmus Hojlund cannot do a similar job – his hold-up play is often excellent – but the more withdrawn role Toney is capable of playing could be the key to getting the best out of Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho.
Think of the way Ten Hag used Wout Weghorst as a ‘number ten’ at times – particularly against Barcelona in the Europa League – and imagine replacing the Dutchman with a far more technical player.
“He’s a very, very confident lad. You can see that when he plays,” ex-England striker Emile Heskey told talkSPORT.
“(He’s) similar to the way Kane plays. The way he drops in and links up, and then drives and gets into the box as well.”
Toney can benefit United wingers
The Kane comparison is an obvious on to make, of course. But if Toney does move to Old Trafford and succeeds in translating his Brentford form to the Red Devils, the sight of him dropping deep – allowing Rashford and Garnacho to race in behind – may instead strike up similarities with that fearsome Liverpool front three under Jurgen Klopp, Toney in the Roberto Firmino role.
The Rashford, Garnacho and Hojlund partnership has shown real signs of promise since the turn of the year.
Toney, however, could potentially get even more out of Man United’s flying wingers, much in the way Firmino did alongside Mo Salah and Sadio Mane at Liverpool.
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