Chronicle Live reporter Mark Douglas has insisted that former Newcastle United striker Ivan Toney will go on to establish himself as a regular starter in the Premier League over the next few years.
Toney was a much sought-after asset throughout the summer transfer window, with Celtic among the clubs chasing a move for the former Newcastle prospect after he enjoyed an excellent season with Peterborough United, registering 24 goals in 32 League One appearances (Sofascore).
The 24-year-old was eventually signed by Championship side Brentford for an initial fee of £5m which could rise to £10m from add-ons, per Sky Sports. Newcastle received a financial windfall of around 30% of that fee, having allowed him to leave St James’ Park for Peterborough for just £300,000 in 2018, per Chronicle Live.
Toney has hit the ground running in the Championship and has established himself as one of the most in-form players outside the Premier League so far this season. He has registered an impressive tally of 12 goals in 14 Championship appearances for the Bees and is second in the division’s scoring charts behind another former Magpies prospect in Blackburn’s Adam Armstrong.
Douglas took to Twitter to suggest that he believes Toney will ‘100% be a Premier League regular’ in the near future. That would suggest the Magpies might have been better holding onto the Brentford man rather than letting him go on the cheap.
A whopping great one, according to #brfc. Reckon around 20/30% but I did hear a suggestion it was more. Toney will 100% be a PL regular but not really sure on Arma
— Mark Douglas (@MsiDouglas) November 28, 2020
Read Newcastle verdict
Toney was never able to fully convince at St James’ Park, making just four senior appearances, despite having shown glimpses of his talents throughout numerous loan spells during his time with Newcastle. However, that he went to Peterborough in League One suggests he may not have even made it at Championship level at that point.
Any such doubts have been well and truly quashed over the last year or so with Toney establishing himself as an excellent finisher and making his physical presence a major challenge for opposing defences. The 24-year-old could well be set to fire Brentford to promotion this term, but he could still end up in the Premier League even if the Bees don’t.
Douglas is probably right to suggest that on, Toney’s current trajectory, it is likely only a matter of time before he ends up featuring regularly in the top flight. That could see Newcastle regret their decision to let him leave for Peterborough two years ago.
