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Tom Bellwood

Ivan Toney back in the Premier League? Al Ahli striker targeting January return to England in bid to make Thomas Tuchel's World Cup squad

Ivan Toney could make a sensational return to the Premier League in a last-gasp bid to be included in England manager Thomas Tuchel’s World Cup plans. Toney left Brentford last year to join Al Ahli in the Saudi Pro League, but has dropped down the Three Lions’ pecking order and could make a dramatic move to force his way back in.

  • Major snub from boss Tuchel

    Tuchel was criticised by some for his handling of Toney, following the striker’s move to Al Ahli. He was recalled to the England squad but received limited playing time, in the World Cup qualifier against Andorra, he was an unused substitute. And he was then brought on as a substitute in the 88th minute of a friendly against Senegal, a match England lost 3-1. Some claimed Toney had been "humiliated" by Tuchel, but the Three Lions boss defended his decisions, stating that he viewed Toney as a "specialist for these situations" and is most effective when the team is "putting a lot of balls into the box". 

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    A short spell back home?

    Speaking on talkSPORT, reporter Ben Jacobs said: "I think Ivan Toney is speaking very positively about his time in Saudi Arabia. But what's going to be really interesting in the next few months is, will Thomas Tuchel tell him definitively, 'By being in Saudi, you're further down the pecking order'? And Toney's aspiration is to play in the World Cup. Plus the fact the way the calendar falls, there's a Ramadan break and that is in the months, at the moment, of February through to mid-March. There's also a break for the festive period as well, so it wouldn't actually be a bad idea for players that want to stay sharp, to do a half-season loan, and then maybe even go back to Saudi Arabia.”

  • Toney’s record for England

    Toney made his England debut in 2023, as a substitute in a Euro 2024 qualifier against Ukraine, and his first international goal came from the penalty spot against Belgium on March 26, 2024, in a friendly, which was his first international start. He was also part of England's Euro 2024 squad, coming on as a substitute in the Round of 16 against Slovakia and assisting Harry Kane's winning goal. Toney also scored in the penalty shootout victory against Switzerland in the quarter-finals.

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    Who are Toney’s potential suitors?

    On the next steps Toney could potentially take, Jacobs added: “I think there'll be interest in Ivan Toney. Al Ahli sources say they don't want to sell, there's a brand new sporting director there and he doesn't want to let Ivan Toney go. And then as far as Premier League interest, I think we've heard links with Tottenham due to the Thomas Frank connection. I'm not aware of any Spurs approach at this stage, some have even said Manchester United, and again, I think Manchester United are banking on Benjamin Sesko and they've also got Matheus Cunha, who can play at No 9. But if Joshua Zirkzee left, you never know, another striker could come in at Old Trafford but at the moment, it's all quiet as far as a Premier League return is concerned. And again, even if there is interest, Toney would have to agitate for the move with his World Cup chances in mind, because Al Ahli don't want to let him go."