Former Newcastle youngster could be heading to Spurs in January
Ivan Toney could be heading back to the Premier League in January in a bid to resurrect his World Cup hopes - but has been warned a move to Newcastle United would be counter-productive.
Toney left Brentford for the Saudi Pro League last year, joining Al-Ahli in a £40million deal. The striker only had 12 months left on his Brentford contract at the time.
The 29-year-old's shock move saw him pick up a staggering weekly wage of £400,000 but despite banging in 38 goals in 54 appearances for his Saudi Arabian side, his career has stalled, slipping down the pecking order with England. Thomas Tuchel handed him a surprise squad call-up in June but the forward only played two minutes despite England losing 3-1 to Senegal.
Toney has since been omitted from Tuchel's last two squads, including the current one which took on Wales on Friday before playing Latvia on Monday night. Instead, Ollie Watkins is now seen as first choice replacement for skipper Harry Kane in the frontline.
Toney has been regularly linked with a move back to the Premier League and with Newcastle desperate for a striker in the summer to replace Callum Wilson, and amid the ongoing Alexander Isak situation, Toney's name cropped up several limes. With Al-Ahli being part-owned by PIF, it seemed a deal United could do.
As it was, Newcastle plumped for Yoane Wissa - ironically, Toney's successor in Brentford's attack - and having also landed Nick Woltemade, seem well stocked for strikers. With that in mind, former Newcastle winger Chris Waddle has told Toney he would be mad to pursue a move back to Tyneside, where he spent three years in the academy and on the fringes of the first team between 2015 and 2018.
Instead, Waddle believes Tottenham Hotspur - managed by Toney's former Brentford boss Thomas Frank - would be an ideal fit for the player.
"If he wants to stay in Saudi then you know that's up to him," Waddle told Bestbettingsites. "Obviously we know that they get unbelievable financial rewards. The league's not the best. I know they're trying to hype it up but it' s nowhere near the Premier League.
"If he's settled there and he's enjoying it and he's obviously picking up the money then that's up to him. But if he was in the Premier League he'd have a far better chance to go to the World Cup. At Tottenham, he knows the manager well, and the manager might know how to get the best from him.
"Would he be a good signing for Newcastle? He could be on the bench a bit and that's not going to help his World Cup bid.
"He should consider a move to Tottenham without a shadow of a doubt. He started at Newcastle, but he came good at Brentford. He's probably still got a house in London. I think either club would benefit.
"At Spurs, he'd be coming up against Solanke and Richarlison. But Frank knows him and he knows if he would fit into that team.
"But if he wants to get in the World Cup squad now he's got to come back to the Premier League."
Newcastle, meanwhile, are keeping tabs on another player to succeed Toney at Brentford, Brazilian hitman Igor Thiago, who has caught the eye of scouts after a strong start to the season.
The 24-year-old had almost a full year out of action due to knee issues but is working his way back to full fitness and has hit five goals in eight appearances this season.
Eddie Howe has been told he needs to continue targeting younger players who have potential sell-on value, and Thiago would fit that bill a lot more than Toney.