Tottenham Hotspur do hold an interest in Brentford’s Ivan Toney this summer but they are not willing to pay over the odds.
The loss of Harry Kane last year was always going to provide Daniel Levy with a headache in finding his long-term successor.
A replacement for a player who has etched his name in the club’s history as their record goalscorer is never going to happen as such but Tottenham are in need of a new number nine.
Heung-min Son has been required to play through the middle for large chunks of the season and he has had his moments.
The South Korean has provided Spurs with 16 goals this season – 13 coming from the centre-forward role – but he is not a player who can hold the ball up as effectively as Kane did.
Richarlison was the man who Ange Postecoglou inherited at Spurs as a more natural cente-forward but the Brazilian has had his injury issues this season.
This summer will provide Spurs with the opportunity to address their need for a new striker and Ivan Toney is a player who the club have one their radar.
The Brentford striker looks set for a summer exit and HITC Football‘s Graeme Bailey has been exclusively speaking to The Spurs News about Tottenham’s interest in the striker.
Tottenham have set their price limit on a move for Ivan Toney
Having returned to action earlier in the season after a lengthy ban from football, the Brentford striker has had some issues in finding his form again.
Toney hit the ground running with four goals in his first five games back but has since failed to score in any of his last nine games for the Bees.
But there are a number of clubs who could potentially make a move for the England striker this summer with his time at Brentford now looking set to conclude.
Thomas Frank has even admitted as much in the lead up to the summer transfer window with the Dane saying it’s likely Toney will be sold.
Spurs scouts have been sent out to watch Toney in action already this season and were there to see the striker net for England against Belgium.
With the 28-year-old emerging as one of the main talking points going into the summer window across the Premier League, Bailey shared his information on where Spurs stand in the running.
“He’s one who everyone’s waiting to find out the asking price for him. It is accurate that if he was available for £40m, Spurs would be in the market for him as would Manchester United,” Bailey said.
“If the fee comes down low enough it is one they will look at. With Tottenham, it wouldn’t surprise me if they brought in a winger and a striker.”
What Ivan Toney has said about his future ahead of the summer
Toney has made it no secret that he has higher aspirations than playing for a Brentford side who have struggled massively this season.
After enjoying their first two seasons in the Premier League, this third campaign has proven to be a real task for Frank’s side.
Speaking to Sky Sports earlier this year, Toney admitted that he wants to make a move to a big club.
“You can never predict when is the right time to move elsewhere, but I think it’s obvious I want to play for a top club,” he said in January.
“Everybody wants to play for a top club, (one) that is fighting for titles. Whether it’s this January that is the right time for a club to come in and pay the right money, who knows?”
His recent form may cast some questions over whether he is good enough to be playing in a Champions League-chasing squad.
However, his 2022/23 campaign was seriously impressive and he could be worth the punt if the price is right.