‘Experience and leadership’: United target in-demand PL star whom they believe can benefit the dressing room

Numerous clubs are expected to ignite their pursuits of Ivan Toney at the end of the campaign, and Manchester United could well be one of them.

The Brentford talisman has been tipped to leave the Gtech Community Stadium for some time now, mainly because he’s made clear his desire to move to a ‘bigger’ club. This summer provides, from the Bees’ perspective, the best opportunity for Toney to do so, and they’re seemingly resigned to losing him.

With his contract set to expire in 2025, the forthcoming window is the prime time for the side to recuperate as high a fee as possible for the England international. They could, of course, try and negotiate a deal in January 2025, but any interested parties would be unwilling to meet their costly demands given that, at that time, he’ll have just five months remaining on his deal.

Meanwhile, United are planning for their first-ever window of the Sir Jim Ratcliffe era, with the new minority owner promising that he’ll do everything in his power to restore the club to its former glories and have them competing with the likes of Manchester City and Liverpool again.

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A new striker will be vital, as Anthony Martial is set to pull the curtains on his nine-year United career when his contract expires in June, leaving just Rasmus Hojlund as the only senior No.9 in the squad in the process.

Someone like Toney, who is Premier League-proven, would only aid Erik ten Hag’s frontline – but that’s not the only reason they’re interested in him. 90min claims it’s the 28-year-old’s ‘experience and leadership’ that’s attracting United’s interest, along with his confidence in his own prolific abilities.