TalkSport insider Alex Crook thinks that Brighton and Hove Albion need to chase after Brentford forward Ivan Toney this summer should conditions allow.
The 25-year-old certainly has set the Championship alight this season, with a very impressive return of 29 goals and 10 assists in his first season in the division, which has helped Brentford secure their place in this season’s play-offs and could end up firing them into the Premier League.
Reports last summer claimed that Brighton were interested in signing him when he was still at League One side Peterborough United, and speaking on the TalkSport Gameday podcast, Crook felt that if Brighton managed to stay up this season and Brentford failed to secure promotion, that they should take another look at bringing him in:
“I know for a fact they were looking at Ivan Toney last summer and decided in the end it was too big a risk. Well, I’ll tell you what, I saw Ivan Toney at Bournemouth for Brentford at the weekend. He was absolutely sensational.
“We’ve already seen from that very club that Ollie Watkins made the step up to the Premier League. I don’t think it would be that big a jump for Ivan Toney. I think if they do stay up, and Brentford don’t go up, he’s a player they should certainly go looking for.”
Would Brighton have a chance of signing Ivan Toney?
Yes
No
TIF Thoughts on Alex Crook’s comments about Brighton and Hove Albion chasing Ivan Toney…
It’s interesting that Crook compares him to Villa man Watkins, who cost the Midlands side £28m and a fee like that would be a club record for the Seagulls. But given that Graham Potter’s side have only scored a goal a game so far this season and could do with the added
And even if his numbers were to drop by 50% as he adjusts to the Premier League, that’s still roughly 15 goals that he can bring to the table, which would be the most that any Brighton player has returned in any Premier League season since their promotion.
They may face plenty of competition for his signature, but they’d be foolish to not at least throw their hat into the ring.
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