Newcastle United have been told to re-sign striker Ivan Toney if the club ‘had any sense’.
That is the view of Darragh MacAnthony, the chairman of Toney’s former club Peterborough United.
It is likely that a new centre-forward will be high on Eddie Howe’s list of priorities this summer.
At the moment, the Magpies have Callum Wilson, Chris Wood and Dwight Gayle to choose from.
Realistically, Gayle will more than likely move on ahead of 2022/23, and Newcastle will need at least one striker to come in.
The club have been linked with the likes of Hugo Ekitike and Victor Osimhen in recent weeks.
But in the eyes of MacAnthony, the Magpies should look no further than Brentford striker Toney, who left St. James’ Park back in 2018.
He said (Chronicle): “Ivan Toney playing in a top ten team creating lots of chances would score 25 league goals, all day long. I think lots of teams are missing a beat there if he isn’t sold for mega dough in the summer.
“In the summer there will be two strikers to watch [outside of Halaand and Mbappe] and that’s Toney and Tammy Abraham. If Newcastle had any sense, they would be signing him [Toney] and bringing him back. The Geordies would absolutely worship the ground he walks on. He would score 20 goals in a Newcastle team with better players.”
So far in 2021/22, Toney has scored 11 Premier League goals for Brentford. Five of those have come via the penalty spot.
He’s done fairly well, but one gets the feeling that Newcastle should perhaps be aiming higher than their former player.
Ivan Toney hasn’t set the world alight this season, and is similar to Newcastle striker Wood
A cynical view of this is that MacAnthony comments are designed to create interest in the player so that he makes a big-money move somewhere. The chairman stands to benefit from a sell-on clause.
But Newcastle should be that club.
While Toney has had a good season with Brentford, he hasn’t really set the world alight.
Five of his goals coming from the penalty spot is worth noting, and he’s actually a little similar to Magpies striker Wood.
He is physical and likes to hold the ball up and bring others into play. He is also a big aerial threat like the New Zealand international.
Maybe Newcastle ought to be looking at players with a different profile.
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