Manchester United and Chelsea are expected to pursue Brentford striker Ivan Toney for a loan deal with an obligation to buy.
The England international’s price has been set at a steep £60 million by Brentford which has put off multiple Premier League clubs.
Arsenal were a lot more keen on the move in January and has all but pulled out of any move for Toney this summer according to Sportslens.
United and Chelsea are both exploring a loan move for the 28-year-old with the option to buy attached which would be friendly to the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules.
The Daily Mail reports that the clubs are set to table their offers in the next couple of days as they are reluctant to pay his asking price outright this summer.
Manchester United are keen to add one more striker before the end of the transfer window because Rasmus Hojlund has suffered an injury keeping him sidelined for at least six weeks.
How would Ivan Toney fit in at United?
If he signs, Toney would slot into Rasmus Hojlund’s role immediately as Erik Ten Hag has had to play Bruno Fernandes out of position up front.
The Brentford striker is a natural target man, much like Hojlund, with more experience in the Premier League already familiar with playing with the likes of Marcus Rashford, Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw from England.
Manchester United face competition from Chelsea
The Red Devils will have to stave off Chelsea who have an interest in Ivan Toney. The Blues are trying to land a striker this summer with Victor Osimhen consistently linked.
Chelsea would have been unlikely to outright sign Toney for £60m due to the amount they have already spent this summer, so a loan deal suits a move to Stamford Bridge.
Toney’s need for assurances over minutes would draw him to United as he will have less competition in the first team thanks to Chelsea’s ten summer signings.