Manchester United reportedly decided against moving for Ivan Toney over the summer due to Red Devils manager Erik ten Hag wanting a different profile of striker.
Manchester United reportedly decided against moving for Ivan Toney over the summer as he did not fit the profile of the type of striker that Red Devils head coach Erik ten Hag wanted to sign.
The 20-time English champions were one of a number of teams linked with Toney, who scored 72 times and registered 23 assists in 141 appearances for Brentford.
Arsenal and Chelsea were also thought to have been keen on the England international, while Tottenham Hotspur head coach Ange Postecoglou recently revealed that his side considered a move for Toney during the summer market.
The forward ultimately made a lucrative switch to Saudi Pro League outfit Al-Ahli, though, and he has scored three times and registered one assist in his first four appearances for the club.
According to ESPN, Man United considered a move for Toney over the summer, but he was not viewed as the best fit for Ten Hag’s system, with the Dutchman wanting his forwards to press energetically from the front.
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Man United ‘considered’ summer move for Toney
Joshua Zirkzee was signed by Man United over the summer, and the Dutchman scored on his Premier League debut against Fulham on the opening night of the new campaign.
He is yet to score a second for the club, but the forward’s link-up play has been impressive in the early stages of his Red Devils career, so it has been a positive start from the summer arrival from Bologna.
Rasmus Hojlund, meanwhile, made his first appearance of the season off the bench against Crystal Palace last weekend, having recovered from a hamstring problem.
Ten Hag is yet to settle on his best attack this season, but Amad Diallo has emerged as the first pick down the right, with the Ivorian putting in a string of strong performances.
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Man United have only scored five league goals this season
Man United, who will open their Europa League campaign against FC Twente on Wednesday night, can take encouragement from the fact that they have kept clean sheets in their last three games in all competitions.
The Red Devils also struck seven times against Barnsley in the EFL Cup last week, but they have only managed five goals in their opening five league games of the season.
Matthijs de Ligt, Zirkzee, Marcus Rashford, Amad and Alejandro Garnacho are the players to have registered in England’s top flight this term, but the lack of a 20-goal forward could harm Man United when it comes to their battle for a top-four spot in the Premier League table.
The team will be back in league action against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday afternoon, before continuing their Europa League league-phase campaign away to Portuguese giants Porto on October 3.