admin“Forget Ivan Toney and unleash….”- Leeds United told can forget signing Ivan Toney by unleashing 17-year-old goal machine
Leeds United will almost certainly be looking ahead to the January transfer window as they fight to escape their Premier League relegation battle.
Daniel Farke’s side sit just one point above the drop zone, and new arrivals could be crucial in turning around their worrying form. The club have previously shown their willingness to spend big in January, famously splashing £35.5m on Georginio Rutter midway through the 2022/23 campaign.
That investment ultimately failed to keep Leeds up, but the Whites could still attempt another bold signing this winter in a bid to secure survival — and one ambitious target reportedly on their radar is Ivan Toney.
Leeds’ Interest in Toney
If Leeds want a proven Premier League striker capable of scoring consistently, Toney would naturally sit near the top of their shortlist.
Before departing for Al-Ahli in the Middle East, the prolific 29-year-old scored 36 Premier League goals in just 85 appearances for Brentford. His form even prompted Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher to praise him as “one of the best attacking players” in the division.
Given his desire to return to England to boost his chances under Thomas Tuchel ahead of next year’s World Cup, it is no surprise that a number of Premier League teams are lining up for his signature. Leeds, Everton and Tottenham Hotspur have all been linked.
However, according to TEAMtalk, the finances involved may rule Leeds out. Toney is currently earning a massive £400,000 a week in Saudi Arabia — a wage far beyond what Leeds could realistically offer. It’s a disappointing blow, especially considering the club have scored only three away goals all season.
But Leeds may not need Toney at all if they choose to promote one of their brightest young talents.
Leeds Could Move On By Backing “One of England’s Best Prospects”
Rather than committing huge money to sign Toney, Leeds might instead turn to one of their own academy stars.
The club has a strong history of trusting homegrown talent — Kalvin Phillips and Archie Gray being standout examples — and another promising name could be ready to follow in their footsteps: Harry Gray.
The 17-year-old striker has already earned rave reviews. Como scout Ben Mattinson has described him as “one of England’s best young prospects” and “the real deal” in front of goal. His numbers support the growing hype, with seven goals in just nine games for the U21s this season.
Gray has already made one senior appearance, and many believe it won’t be long before he makes a bigger impact at first-team level.
Journalist Alan Nixon has reported that Derby County and Hull City are preparing January loan bids, which could aid his development — much like Toney benefitted from several EFL loan spells early in his career.
Even so, Leeds’ ongoing struggles in front of goal could push Farke to give Gray a real chance sooner rather than later. If the teenager continues his rapid rise, he could emerge as Leeds’ long-term solution up front — potentially replacing the need for a costly move for Toney altogether.
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