Ange Postecoglou reveals the reason Spurs didn’t sign Ivan Toney this summer before his Al Ahli transfer

Ivan Toney was one of the big names who attracted interest from a number of clubs over the summer but Spurs Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou has now explained why his side did not choose to sign the striker.

The 28-year-old England forward had entered the final 12 months of his contract at Brentford and there was no indication he was going to sign fresh terms, leaving the Bees to sell the striker or face losing him for nothing.

The likes of Chelsea and Manchester United were among the Premier League sides linked with a move for Toney.

But ultimately, Toney ended up moving to Saudi Pro League side Al Ahli for a reported £40 million fee on transfer deadline day.

In the Saudi Pro League, which is known for its extraordinary financial pulling power, Toney is set to net £403,000 a week including bonuses, which would be the equivalent of earning £800,000 before tax in the UK.

It means Toney left Brentford – whom he joined in 2020 – with 72 goals in 141 games, and has scored one goal in six England appearances, though he was not called up by the Three Lions during the last international break following his move to Saudi Arabia.

Spurs boss Postecoglou has now spoken about Toney and has admitted the North London club did look at bringing the player across the capital during the summer.

But he made it clear that the club wanted to sign Dominic Solanke first and foremost as he was the profile of player they felt would best complement their existing forward options.

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Solanke joined Spurs from Bournemouth in the week before the new season began for a reported £55 million initial fee with a further £10 million in add-ons, as the club signed a replacement in an area of the squad which had a huge gap in it following the departure of Harry Kane last year to Bayern Munich.

“We did look at him (Toney) but I have said Dom was the one I wanted,” Postecoglou revealed.

“It took the whole summer to get him in but he was the one that fitted the profile that we wanted.”

Solanke is yet to find the back of the net in his two appearances so far for Spurs, while Toney has played the same number of matches without scoring for Al Ahli, having not been involved for Brentford at the start of the season ahead of his impending move away from the club.