An update has emerged on Tottenham Hotspur and their interest in Brentford’s Ivan Toney ahead of the upcoming summer transfer window…
What’s the latest on Ivan Toney to Tottenham?
According to Football Insider, Spurs are keeping close tabs on the England international as Antonio Conte eyes up potential signings to bolster his attacking options heading into the 2023/24 campaign.
The report claims that the Bees are currently in negotiations with the centre-forward over a deal to extend his current contract with the Premier League club, with Thomas Frank’s side offering him just £50k-per-week.
However, it remains to be seen whether or not the former Peterborough marksman will put pen to paper on an extension and Tottenham appear to be waiting in the wings to pounce on the striker if he becomes available.
He’d be a dream Harry Kane alternative
The Lilywhites have leaned on their all-time record goalscorer in the Premier League this season and have been unable to find another regular source for goals.
Heung-min Son, who scored 23 top-flight goals last term, has only found the back of the net four times in the division in 2022/23 and no other player in the squad, outside of Kane, has managed more than Rodrigo Bentancur’s five.
The England captain has struck a whopping 17 goals for the team and proven himself to be an excellent creator for others – creating eight ‘big chances’ and providing 1.7 key passes per match.
This comes after the record-breaker managed 17 goals and nine assists – laying on 19 ‘big chances’ for others – in the Premier League in 2021/22.
Kane is a proven goalscorer and facilitator and Toney could come in as the dream alternative to the current Spurs star as his form for Brentford over the last 18 months suggests that the goal machine has what it takes to step in and bolster the club’s attack.
The Bees star, who boss Frank claimed has the mindset of a “lion“, has produced 14 goals and three assists – creating nine ‘big chances’ – in 20 Premier League outings this term.
Last season, the “clinical” 26-year-old – as lauded by analyst Statman Dave last month – plundered 12 goals, five assists, and ten ‘big chances’ created, in 32 starts in the top-flight.
These statistics indicate that the ex-Newcastle talent is similar to Tottenham’s number nine in the sense that he is a proven goalscorer who can also provide his teammates with quality opportunities on a regular basis.
Toney also ranks in the top 17% of his strikers in Europe’s top five leagues over the last 365 days for interceptions, clearances, and aerial duels won per 90, which suggests that the forward could be a great option to bring on for Kane when Spurs are trying to see out a lead late on in a game as the Brentford man is an excellent defender from the front.
Therefore, the £30k-per-week dynamo would be a dream alternative to Conte’s current first-choice striker based on his quality end product and the defensive effort that the workhorse can provide.