Sir Jim Ratcliffe is not willing to pay more than £70m for Erik ten Hag’s transfer target

Ivan Toney of Brentford is reportedly being considered by Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag as a potential top striker to sign in the summer.

Rasmus Hojlund was signed by the Red Devils from Atalanta at the start of the season but they are already thinking of bolstering Ten Hag’s offensive line.

Ten Hag is personally monitoring Toney in anticipation of a possible summer transfer, according to The Daily Star.

With one year remaining on his contract, the England striker has made it clear that he wants to leave Brentford at the end of the current season. Even Bees manager Thomas Frank acknowledged that it is doubtful that he will stay.

United are not the only club interested in signing him. Toney is considered a long term Arsenal target and the Gunners are favourite to land him in the summer as things stand.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe could have difficulties agreeing to the transfer, though, given Brentford’s £100 million valuation.

The head of INEOS and part owner of United is aware that substantial sums of money will need to be invested in the club’s recruitment of new players to bring the team back to its previous glory. But he thinks the 27-year-old is overpriced and would be open to a deal that is closer to £70 million. Preventing a bidding war for Toney’s services is another priority for the British billionaire, as per the report in The Daily Star.

Ratcliffe is uninterested in signing Toney for £100 million because of his lack of European playing experience. He feels that if the striker stays at Old Trafford for four or five years, his resale value as a player would decline as he gets older.