THE Ivan Toney He is one of the most consistent strikers in English football. His main characteristic is his stability but also his execution instinct. In recent years he has recorded absolutely productive years, leading Brentford to establish himself in the Premier League. He recently returned to action following his FA ban, with a move to the Island’s top team looking more likely than ever.
Peterborough and promotion to the Premier League
The 2019/2020 season was a turning point in the 27-year-old’s career, after his excellent season drew attention to him. Playing for Peterborough United, in England’s third division, he scored 24 goals and led his team to promotion playoffs.
The people of Brentford, they saw in him the man who could lead the team to the Premier League and so, at the end of the transfer window, they paid 5.6 million euros for his acquisition. From his first year in London, he showed his credentials, since with the 31 goals and 10 assists he scored, he helped the club’s presence in the antechamber of the first division.
His contribution to the team’s rise was a catalyst in all three matches that followed. With Thomas Frank on the bench, he scored in the second semi-final against Bournemouth and also scored in the final against Swansea.
Premier League
The celebrations for the promotion lasted a while, since the “bees” had to immediately prepare for the new challenge. Toney’s first year in the Premier League was somewhat of a discovery, since the difference in level between the two divisions is great. Nevertheless, it was effective, since with the 12 goals he scoredhelped his team achieve the goal of staying.
His following season is his most productive in the Premier and is responsible for his presence on the transfer list of the island’s major teams. THE Brentford finished the year in 9th place in the standings, a performance that is the best in its recent history.
In his magical year Erling Haalandwhere he scored 35 goals, Toney was outstanding and his 20 goals put him third on the scorers list.
Illegal betting and punishment
With last year’s outstanding year under his belt, everything showed that Toney was ready for the big step in his career. However, his involvement in gambling was a factor that “braked”, temporarily, his career. The English FA imposed a ban on the Englishman, having confirmed the charges of illegal betting.
After his admission for 232 violations of the regulation, which prohibits football players from engaging in betting, was punished with eight months of inactivity and a significant sum of money. Brentford’s defeat by Liverpool on 6 May 2023 was his last Premier League game until his return to action in January 2024.
This development proved to put a brake on the Englishman’s rise, since in his prime he missed a large part of his team’s games.
The return and the last year in the “bees”
His gradual return has been a hot topic of discussion on the Island, as England’s biggest clubs have been in the hunt for a prolific striker. Tony’s racing profile he is a perfect fit for the teams, as he is involved throughout the game, has the instincts of a goalscorer and has knowledge of the category.
His name was heavily debated during the winter transfer window after being heavily linked with Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea. After all remained in London and his return to the courts showed that the competitive inactivity did not affect his condition at all. In the first three matches, he scored two goals and now the rumors of his transfer to a team with higher goals seem to be getting “flesh and bones”.
Ivan Toney makes it back-to-back goals ??@BrentfordFC are still battling at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium… ??#TOTBRE pic.twitter.com/eGtV5LBirO
— Premier League (@premierleague) January 31, 2024
His path now seems to lead him to a higher level team, since he himself Frank announced that he is probably in his last year at Brentford. In the summer he will be asked to decide which of the Premier League’s big clubs he wants to play for, with United and Arsenal leading the race to sign him.
Where will Ivan Toney end up? ?? pic.twitter.com/pqPNAniAOR
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) February 7, 2024
Edited by: Loizos Lainidis
Source: Sport Fm
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