Ivan Toney sends clear message to Tottenham and Thomas Frank as transfer window opens

Former Brentford star Ivan Toney has been in strong form in the Saudi Pro League as rumours hint at a move back to the Premier League for the prolific forward

Ivan Toney has sent a clear message to potential suitors, including Tottenham, as he scored again this week.

The England forward has shown he is more than capable of putting the ball in the back of the net once again with several Premier League clubs reportedly looking to swoop for the 29-year-old in January.

Toney's strike against Al Fayha on Tuesday took his tally to 14 goals in just 19 appearances for Al-Ahli this season. The 29-year-old left Brentford to sign for the Saudi Pro League side in August 2024 in a deal worth around £40million and he has since scored 45 goals in 65 games.

Tottenham boss Thomas Frank, who worked with Toney at the Bees, has claimed Spurs will "definitely" be active in the January window.

Toney has been linked with a move to Spurs in the past and the towering forward could be the tonic they need in order to kick-start their season. Clubs such as Arsenal and Everton have also said to have been interested in the recent past.

Frank's side have struggled with consistency this year, winning just seven of their 18 league games so far. Injuries have also played a part with the likes of Dominic Solanke, James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski and Radu Dragusin missing large chunks of the 2025/26 season so far.

According to Sky Sports, Toney is open to a Premier League return in January with numerous top-flight clubs having made enquiries about a deal. While Toney's free-scoring habits seem to make him a perfect fit for Tottenham, former Spurs star Chris Waddle isn't entirely convinced that Toney is the right move for the north London side.

However, he is in no doubt that Spurs are "crying out for a centre-forward at the minute". Speaking to BestBettingSites, Waddle said: "I liked him at Brentford. I was surprised he went away, but we know why players go to Saudi Arabia and that’s not a criticism.

"He’s been away a year or two now, and the big question is whether he would still have that sharpness and whether he could adapt back to the Premier League.

"Centre-forward is a very difficult position to fill. You’ve got to look at how you play and whether the striker suits that style. Thomas Frank may say he has a certain way of playing, but Tottenham are tactically very different from his Brentford team."

He added: "I’m not saying Ivan Toney wouldn’t do a job. We know he did very well at Brentford. He’s not the paciest, but he’s a good target man, links play well and scores goals. He proved that.

"The question for Tottenham is whether they look at his age and whether they think they can sell him on in three years’ time. That’s how they tend to think. They’ll ask if they’ll get their money back, and let’s be honest, I don’t think they would. That’s how Tottenham operate in the market. They’re always looking to make money."

A potential fly in the ointment for any move for Toney could come in the form of Manchester United. Following an excellent debut season at Al-Ahli, where he scored 30 times in 44 games, Toney earned himself a recall to the England squad.

After impressing for England at Euro 2024, United reportedly considered Toney as an option as they tried to strengthen their front line. Although no move came to fruition with the club opting for Joshua Zirkzee instead.

However, while Toney has been linked with a return to England, there is no indication United are currently looking to sign Toney with Ruben Amorim's side only signing Slovenian striker Benjamin Sesko in the summer. Toney is also thought to be on high wages in Saudi Arabia and has a contract that runs until 2028, complicating any potential deal.