Manchester United had reportedly held talks with Ivan Toney earlier in the summer as they could plot a surprise January move.
According to Football Transfers, Manchester United could plot a surprise move for Ivan Toney in January. The Brentford star will have 18 months left on his deal at the time and return from an eight-month ban as the Red Devils plan their next move to strengthen the striker position.
Manchester United have had a mixed window this summer, with their performances on the pitch demanding they do more work in the market. Andre Onana has proved his worth early days by earning a clean sheet on their opening weekend victory over Wolves.
Mason Mount, on the other hand, has somewhat underwhelmed, while new striker signing Rasmus Hojlund is yet to play as he continues to recover from a problem. The centre-forward position continues to baffle Erik ten Hag as he could dip into the January market for another solution.
There are doubts about whether Hojlund could play two games weekly due to a back problem. However, Manchester United are now keen on Ivan Toney, with whom they reportedly held talks before flying out to the US for their pre-season tour.
The Premier League star currently serves an eight-month ban for breaching the betting rules and will only return to action in mid-January. Manchester United wants to formalise a move, as the striker will have 18 months left on his Brentford contract.
The Red Devils do not have the funds to add a new striker now; around January, Toney could become one of the best available options in the market. The Red Devils will face competition if Brentford decide to sell him, with Tottenham also keen on the 27-year-old forward.
Chelsea also holds an interest, and so far, they have not signed a new forward apart from Nicolas Jackson. Hence, the fight for Toney could intensify in January, with Brentford likely to benefit from a potential bidding war.
As for Manchester United, they reportedly saw Hojlund as a supplementary striker to their plan for a senior addition in the position. Toney’s vast experience would make him the sure starter in the role under Ten Hag, as he suits their physical approach upfront.
