Peterborough United director of football Barry Fry has revealed that Everton have been watching Brentford striker Ivan Toney.
The Lowdown: Everton lagging behind
Although we are creeping ever closer towards the 2020/21 campaign, the Toffees remain without a permanent manager after Carlo Ancelotti returned to Real Madrid earlier this month (Sky Sports).
As such, their transfer plans are yet to really get going, but that does not mean the scouting team haven’t been doing their research.
The Latest: Fry makes Toney claim
Speaking to This Is Futbol, Fry has revealed that Everton have been watching Toney and claimed that the 25-year-old could cost as much as £50m. He said:
“I still think people like Everton and even Chelsea (want him). I know Chelsea are looking at the top range of centre-forwards but I know they’ve watched him and like him and if they don’t get A, B, and C, who knows?
“Then I expect Ivan to go for £40m, £45m, £50m, but now he’s got them in the Premier League, only the top clubs could afford him.”
The Verdict: A lot of money
Toney would seem to be a good purchase for the Toffees. During the 2019/20 campaign he was the top scorer in League One with Peterborough (worldfootball.net), and last season he netted 31 times in 45 Championship games as Brentford earned promotion to the Premier League (Transfermarkt) – he broke the second tier’s record of 30 goals in a season since it was rebranded in 2004.
However, given that he has made just two appearances in the Premier League during a very short spell with Newcastle more than five years ago, £50m would be a ridiculous fee for Everton to pay. As attractive a proposition as Toney is, the Toffees must be careful not to get carried away and determine whether they would get good value out of this prospective deal.
In other news, many Everton fans were livid over this transfer update.