Journalist Simon Phillips claims that Aston Villa is “looking” to recruit Brentford striker Ivan Toney in an attempt to replace Jhon Duran this summer.
He implies that Toney’s future at Brentford is still up in the air because the England international is hoping his performance at Euro 2024 would open up a transfer to a Premier League outfit.
While Brentford is reportedly expecting £60 million for the 28-year-old this summer, it is anticipated that he will be available for roughly £40 million. Villa has recently shown interest in the player.
Only 18 months after Duran’s arrival from Chicago Fire, Unai Emery’s team is expected to part ways with the Colombian international and may attempt to replace him with a new player.
In his first full season in Birmingham, the 20-year-old struggled to compete with Ollie Watkins for playing time and failed to make an impression at Villa Park.
Fabrizio Romano reports that Duran has given the go-ahead for the transfer to proceed and is now willing to leave Villa for West Ham United this summer.
In his first full season in Birmingham, the 20-year-old struggled to compete with Ollie Watkins for playing time and failed to make an impression at Villa Park.
Fabrizio Romano reports that Duran has given the go-ahead for the transfer to proceed and is now willing to leave Villa for West Ham United this summer.
Toney on Aston Villa’s Radar
“The sticking point for Toney to Chelsea is that not everyone at the club would be on board with making the move to sign him, but he does have admirers here, and some believe that he is the profile of striker that the club needs.
“However, if they want to move on Toney, they might want to step that up, and that is because Aston Villa are now looking at Toney as an option for them this summer, as they are waiting to sell Jhon Duran.”
In contrast to Chelsea, Aston Villa might entice Toney—whom his manager Thomas Frank has called “world-class”—with a chance to play Champions League football. The Birmingham team finished fourth in the league the previous year, earning qualification to the esteemed competition for the first time ever.
While Toney, 28, is currently focused on making an impression in Gareth Southgate’s group and waiting for the final against Spain, Phillips expects that the transfer speculation will intensify following the Euros.
Villa’s position on Toney may hinge on Ollie Watkins’s status at the team; according to Phillips, England’s semi-final hero has drawn interest from a number of teams this summer, including Chelsea.
Villa is anticipated to demand a high price for their star striker Watkins ahead of a landmark season for the club, therefore Watkins is believed to be an expensive choice for the Blues.
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