Thomas Tuchel favourite is 'perfect for Tottenham' - 'why they haven't signed him, I don't know'
Tottenham Hotspur should have made a move for Ivan Toney when he was on the way out at Brentford in 2024.
That is the opinion of former senior Tottenham scout, Bryan King, speaking exclusively to Football Insider.
The striker joined Al-Ahli in 2024, with the Saudi Pro League side paying £40million after he entered the final year of his contract.
Tottenham were among the clubs linked to Toney at the time but ultimately opted against a move - a decision they now likely regret.
The 30-year-old scored 42 goals and provided 11 assists in just 49 appearances across all competitions last season, and was selected for Thomas Tuchel's World Cup squad.
Toney is now being linked with a move to his former side Newcastle United, after Al-Ahli manager Matthias Jaissle replaced Eddie Howe.
Ivan Toney would have been 'perfect'
Toney's final years at Brentford were complicated. The forward had been among the most desired players in England at one stage.
The 2020-21 season saw him net 33 goals and provide 10 assists across all competitions for the Bees as they were promoted to the Premier League.
And after a strong opening campaign in the top flight, he scored 20 Premier League goals in the 2022-23 season, establishing himself among the most dangerous forwards in England.
The the ban came - Toney received an eight-month ban from football and a large fine after admitting to 232 breaches of the rules against betting.
That left many of the Premier League's top clubs unsure on him when he became available in 2024.
"Are clubs looking for him [Toney]? I said a couple of years ago, when he was unsure about his future at Brentford and he ran his contract down there, why the hell Spurs never went for him, I don't know," King told Football Insider.
"He would have been perfect for Tottenham. He was certainly a raw centre-forward when he went to Brentford.
"Of course, he got tied up with this thing about, you know, the betting stuff and all that. Then he ended up in a World Cup squad after playing a season and a half in Saudi Arabia."
What has Thomas Tuchel said about Toney?
Toney's inclusion in the World Cup squad was a massive surprise to everybody, likely including the striker himself.
The forward had not been involved in an England squad for Tuchel since June 2025.
“It was necessary that we talked with him again and clarified with him if he’s happy to come. After having another conversation with him and having very good feedback from his club coach and good feedback from the Euros in Germany, we decided to reopen the door," Tuchel explained.
"He can start for us but I don’t see him as a starter. His role is to finish matches for us. He is, in this case, part of a special operations team. He knows that and that’s his role.
"Off the pitch, he is glue. He is someone who connects with everyone very, very well.”