7 months ago
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Signing Brentford and England striker Ivan Toney would immediately turn Manchester United into Premier League title contenders, according to Darragh MacAnthony.
United have not won the English title since Sir Alex Ferguson’s departure over ten years ago and are currently just sixth in the Premier League, 11 points outside the top-four places and 20 behind current leaders Arsenal.
But Peterborough United chairman MacAnthony believes United are just one major signing away from competing with the likes of Manchester City, Liverpool and Arsenal for domestic honours once more.
Posh chairman MacAnthony signed Toney from Newcastle United in 2018 and then sold the England frontman to Brentford in 2020.
Toney has been a sensational signing for the Bees – scoring 72 goals in 135 appearances – and his form has earned his two England caps and perhaps a place in the Three Lions squad for this summer’s Euros.
The 28-year-old would have even more goals and England caps to his name had he not received an eight-month ban from the FA for breaking betting rules.
The lengthy break does not appear to have affected Toney’s ability and he is once again been linked with a summer move to the likes of Manchester United and Arsenal.
His former chairman MacAnthony is adamant Toney would flourish at one of the biggest clubs in the Premier League and says he would turn struggling United into title challengers.
‘Put him in an Arsenal team, put him in a Liverpool or a Man United team, he scores 30 Premier League goals in a season,’ MacAnthony told Sky Sports. ‘I think anyone who disagrees with that hasn’t been watching the last two-and-a-half years.
‘I think there’s five clubs in the world who could probably end up buying him and he will improve any of those clubs by a mile. He turns Manchester United into challengers for the Premier League.
‘Having scouted players not just for their technical ability but their personality and their growth for 18 years, I think he’s not even in his prime even though he’s turning 28.
‘Whoever buys him, £100m will be well spent because he’s coming into his prime. You’re going to get five or six years of his best.
‘He’s scored a goal every other game in the Premier League for Brentford. Put Ivan in an Aston Villa team under Emery and see how many goals he scores in the Premier League. He’d probably be up there for the Golden Boot.’
Brentford boss Thomas Frank hopes Toney stays in west London for at least one more season but admits ‘the reality’ may be different.
‘I would love him to stay forever, but the reality is he has one year left on his contract,’said Frank. ‘He’s been pretty open about playing for a top club in the future, so there’s a couple of scenarios.
‘He leaves in the summer, he leaves in the winter, or he stays until the end. If he leaves whenever, it would be fantastic to see him for a top club.’
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