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Ivan Toney is currently plying his trade in Saudi Arabia but the former Brentford striker has been linked with Tottenham Hotspur ahead of the January transfer window
Thomas Frank has been told Tottenham need "three or four established footballers" in order to turn their season around.
Following back-to-back defeats to Nottingham Forest and Liverpool, Spurs are 13th in the Premier League. Frank's side have struggled with consistency this season, winning just six of their 17 league games so far.
Injuries have played a part, with the likes of Dominic Solanke, James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski and Radu Dragusin missing large chunks of the 2025/26 campaign. Frank's side has been stretched as a result and the Dane confirmed earlier this month that the Lilywhites will "definitely" be active in January when the transfer window opens.
One player who has been linked with a move to north London is Ivan Toney, with Frank working with the Englishman during their time at Brentford. Toney is currently at Saudi Pro League club Al Ahli and has scored 12 goals in 18 appearances this season. The 29-year-old has his sights set on a place in England's World Cup squad and the striker may look to return to England's top flight this winter to prove to Thomas Tuchel he deserves a spot on the plane to the US.
Chris Waddle is unsure if Toney is suited to Frank’s tactical approach in north London, however. 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. That’s partly because the crowd demands attacking football. They want entertainment. I know what it’s like to play for Tottenham. In an ideal world, Thomas Frank might not want to be as offensive as he is, but fans want results and they want excitement. It’s got to be entertaining football.
"He’s probably fallen into that trap of thinking, how do I please the fans? 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.
"They even got rid of Son, probably at a time when his legs were just starting to go, and sold him to America for good money. A lot of fans would say, ‘Why get rid of him? You could have had another year out of him.’ But the club see it as an opportunity to make money."
It is unclear how much Al Ahli would demand for Toney if the Englishman were to leave, although the Saudi Arabia club did pay around £40million for the striker 18 months ago. Whatever happens, Waddle insists Spurs need "proven quality" through the doors in January.
"With Ivan Toney, it depends on the price," he said. "Tottenham are crying out for a centre-forward at the minute. If they’re going to go down that road in January, that’s fine, but they need proven quality.
"Whether that’s players from Italy, France, Germany or Spain, they need to identify them and say, ‘We’re buying him now.’ If they haven’t got the money and they’re still paying off debts from the stadium, then put your hand up and say so. Fans will understand.
"But if they do have the money, they need three or four established footballers. If they get them, Tottenham’s season and future could change massively."
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