Ivan Toney has hinted he would be open to moving to Manchester United if an opportunity presented itself.
Ivan Toney is current serving a eight match ban for betting related offences. He will be eligible to return mid-season.
Toney maintains he did not do anything wrong, betting on himself to score, in a fresh interview with Steven Bartlett on the Diary of a CEO podcast.
The Brentford striker will be permitted to resume training with Brentford from September.
READ: Confirmed Manchester United transfers in, out, loans, releases, youth for 2023/24
Ivan Toney interested in big move
Ivan Toney scored 20 goals in 33 Premier League games last season, including a winner over Manchester City, earning a call-up to the England squad.
In his interview, Toney admits he is really looking for a big move, and namechecked Manchester United as one club he has admired, even though he admits being a Liverpool fan.
Toney said: “Everyone wants to play at the top of the tree. Not that Brentford aren’t there, but everyone wants to play for these big clubs and compete for trophies.
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“If a chance was to come along, I would be silly not to look into it. The manager knows that I want to play at the highest level possible and whenever that time comes, so be it. My time at Brentford has been probably the best of my career.
“The next club I go to will be the right club. I am a Liverpool fan my whole life. I have liked Arsenal from young, how they play and how passionate their fans are. But I’m a Liverpool boy, Liverpool fan at heart.
“I liked Berbatov. I liked watching United a lot when Berbatov was there, too.”
A smart club might try to do a deal for Toney now
It would not be a surprise if an interested club attempted to do a cheap deal to sign Ivan Toney now. Although it’s unclear if Manchester United would be so smart.
Manchester United need strikers, and Ivan Toney would arrive would a real point to prove.
Unlike the raw but talented Rasmus Hojlund, Toney is experienced and knows the Premier League, and unlike Anthony Martial, he can stay fit. He also knows Christian Eriksen from their time playing together at Brentford.
Toney is not in the strongest position right now due to his FA ban. If not for that, clubs might have taken an interest in him this summer. But Brentford might not be able to hold onto him forever.
It is 25 years since United took a gamble on proven Premier League forward Dwight Yorke, and saw him explode into life. Toney in a similar way is waiting his next challenge, and surrounded by superior players, he could make a real impact.