The long-anticipated return of Ivan Toney to English football seems increasingly unlikely, leaving Tottenham Hotspur facing a significant setback in their transfer ambitions. Despite former Brentford manager Thomas Frank at the helm of Spurs and an apparent opportunity to reunite, Toney remains unconvinced about relocating from Saudi Arabia back to the Premier League.
Currently plying his trade in the Middle East, Toney has enjoyed a prolific spell, netting 30 goals in his debut season and adding another 11 this term. Nevertheless, the 29-year-old’s future has generated widespread speculation, with Tottenham among those eyeing a potential swoop given Frank’s previous successful partnership with Toney, which yielded 72 goals across their tenure together.
While Everton has also cropped up as a possible destination, Graeme Bailey’s insights shared with Everton News suggest that any move to England is far from certain. Bailey highlights the tentative nature of preliminary talks held with the Toffees and notes that a number of clubs, including West Ham, have shown interest. However, he cautions that Toney’s return to the Premier League isn’t something the player is entirely sold on.
Complications, such as tax implications from rekindling his UK ties, loom over the possibility of a deal. Within industry whispers and speculation, there persists a sentiment that Toney remains hesitant to make the switch back from his current Saudi setup.
For Tottenham, this potential transfer quagmire poses a concern, particularly after ex-Spurs winger David Bentley vocalised confidence in Toney’s inclination towards a move to North London. Bentley touted the proposition of playing under Frank at Tottenham’s state-of-the-art ground as ideal for Toney, especially if he harbours aspirations of cementing a place in England’s World Cup squad. He argued that Toney’s presence could be indispensable for Spurs and the national team, especially if Harry Kane’s situation were to change.
Despite Bentley’s assertion that ongoing talks might be in motion, it seems any negotiations might not bear fruit imminently, with Toney’s return still shrouded in uncertainty.
This development leaves a lingering question mark over the striker’s future and whether Tottenham will succeed in securing his signature to bolster their attacking ranks.