Životni put bivšeg napadača Brentforda, Ivana Tonija
Once it appeared to be clear that former Brentford hit-man, Ivan Toney, was going to be available on the transfer market, he was initially coveted by a number of clubs. His form prior to an eight month ban from the game suggested that he might get his pick of the bunch, and Brentford were pushing for a £100m transfer fee just under a year ago, according to Sky Sports. Four goals in his first five games back in the early part of 2024 hinted at a striker having lost none of his potency, however, his form then fell off a cliff. So much so, that after early February, he didn’t score again during the season. That saw his value quickly plummet and all of the clubs who had previously courted his services fall by the wayside. Not even his appearances at the European Championship for England were enough to see Toney able to continue his career in the English top-flight. As each club failed to make their expected move in the summer transfer window, the player’s only option became a move – albeit a lucrative one – to the Saudi Pro League, where he’s rediscovered his scoring touch with two goals in two games. It’s not clear whether he will be able to resurrect his career in England at any future stage, though Arsenal won’t be likely to be joining the queue should he do so. As TBR Football note, during the Easter period Toney had a secret meeting with Arsenal’s sporting director, Edu. It would appear that the Gunners decided not to sign him as a result of that meeting, bringing to an end Toney’s dream of playing for the North Londoners. Top photo by Warren Little/Getty Images
Kada je postalo jasno da će bivši napadač Brentforda, Ivan Toney, biti dostupan na tržištu transfera, bio je prvobitno poželjan za nekoliko klubova. Njegova forma prije osmomjesečne suspenzije iz igre sugerirala je da bi mogao birati između mnogih ponuda, a prema Sky Sportsu, Brentford je prije gotovo godinu dana tražio transfernu naknadu od 100 miliona funti. Četiri gola u njegovim prvim pet utakmica po povratku na teren početkom 2024. godine naznačili su da napadač nije izgubio ništa od svoje sposobnosti, međutim, nakon toga njegova forma drastično je opala. Tako da nakon početka februara nije više postigao gol tokom sezone. To je vidljivo smanjilo njegovu vrijednost i svi klubovi koji su ranije tražili njegove usluge odustali su. Čak ni njegov nastup na Europskom prvenstvu za Englesku nije bio dovoljan da Toney nastavi svoju karijeru u engleskom vrhunskom fudbalu. Nakon što su svi klubovi propustili priliku u ljetnjem prelaznom roku, jedina opcija igrača postala je selidba, iako vrlo unosna, u Saudijsku Pro ligu, gdje je ponovno pronašao svoj golgeterski instinkt s dva gola u dvije utakmice. Nije jasno hoće li moći obnoviti svoju karijeru u Engleskoj u nekom budućem trenutku, iako Arsenal vjerojatno neće biti među klubovima koji će ga prihvatiti. Kako TBR Football napominje, tokom Uskrsa Toney je imao tajni sastanak s sportskim direktorom Arsenala, Eduom. Čini se da Topnici nisu odlučili potpisati ga kao rezultat tog sastanka, okončavajući Toneyev san o igranju za klub iz Sjevernog Londona.
