Once Manchester United finalizes the acquisition of Manuel Ugarte, they will have successfully signed most of their key transfer targets for the summer. Ugarte has been viewed as the ideal replacement for Casemiro, and his addition will enhance the club’s confidence in their transfer activities this window.
However, there might be room for one more major signing before the window shuts. According to The Standard, Manchester United has started discussions to bring in Brentford’s forward, Ivan Toney.
Toney is keen on securing a high-profile move before the transfer deadline and is also in talks with Chelsea. While Chelsea is his preferred option, Manchester United has initiated initial negotiations with Brentford, hoping to attract the player and finalize the deal.
The report indicates that these talks are still in their preliminary phase. Brentford anticipates that Manchester United will make a substantial bid, which could lead to a bidding war with Chelsea. They have set a price of approximately £40 million for Toney this summer.
Earlier, Brentford was asking up to £100 million for Toney, but with less than a year remaining on his contract, they are now prepared to accept about half of that amount to avoid losing him for nothing next summer.
Brentford’s manager, Thomas Frank, has excluded the 28-year-old from his squad for two consecutive Premier League games, hinting at the club’s preparation for his exit. Currently, Chelsea seems to be the only team in advanced discussions, but the situation could quickly shift if Manchester United intensifies their efforts.
Although Toney could be a significant addition to Manchester United, the team already has options like Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee for the striker role. Considering Zirkzee’s versatility and the already high spending this window, investing £40 million in Toney might not be the most judicious choice.
Thus far, Manchester United’s Director of Football, Dan Ashworth, has demonstrated astute decision-making in the transfer market. There’s no reason to question his it at this stage. The next few hours will determine whether the Red Devils will actively pursue Toney or opt to refrain from additional spending this summer.
