Joe Cole believes Manchester United missed a crucial opportunity by not signing England striker Ivan Toney last summer. The former Chelsea and England star thinks Toney could have been the perfect fit for United, especially given the club’s struggles in attack.
Manchester United were reportedly interested in Toney, along with Premier League rivals Chelsea and Arsenal. At the time, Toney was entering the final year of his contract at Brentford, and the club was open to selling their star forward. Toney had an impressive record with Brentford, scoring 72 goals in 141 appearances, including 20 goals in the 2022-23 Premier League season.
However, Toney’s career took a hit when he was handed an eight-month ban in May 2023 after being found guilty of 232 breaches of the FA’s betting regulations. Despite the setback, Toney was included in England’s squad for Euro 2024, where he played a minor but important role in the team’s journey to the final.
Although Toney did not play for Brentford in the 2023-24 season, he eventually secured a move to Saudi Pro League side Al-Ahli on transfer deadline day, for a reported fee of around £40 million. The lucrative offer from Saudi Arabia proved too tempting for Toney to reject.
Joe Cole, however, believes that Manchester United should have made a stronger push to sign Toney. United brought in Joshua Zirkzee from the Netherlands over the summer, along with other signings like Matthijs de Ligt, Noussair Mazraoui, Manuel Ugarte, and Leny Yoro. But despite these acquisitions, the team has struggled, with their forwards managing just five goals in seven Premier League matches.
“Ivan Toney is a cracking player and exactly what Manchester United need,” Cole told Paddy Power. “He has the personality and ability to play for a top side. United got gun-shy in the transfer window, and if I were in charge, I would have made signing Toney a priority.”
United’s poor start to the season, which has left them 14th in the table, has only added to the frustration. With a struggling attack and an underperforming squad, the missed opportunity to sign Toney feels even more significant.
Despite the club’s poor form, Cole believes Manchester United will stick with manager Erik ten Hag, for now. He said, “If they were going to sack him, they would have done it by now. I think Ten Hag has dodged a bullet, but he needs to start winning soon, or his position will become untenable.”
Cole emphasized the need for Ten Hag to turn things around quickly, especially with the team’s growing injury list and underwhelming performances. While Ten Hag remains in charge for now, the pressure is mounting, and United’s decision not to sign Toney could be one they regret.