Tottenham Hotspur boss Thomas Frank wants to sign Al Ahli striker Ivan Toney in the January transfer window
Tottenham Hotspur had focused on bolstering the attacking unit in the summer, with Thomas Frank bringing in the likes of Xavi Simons, Randal Kolo Muani and Mohammed Kudus.
As a Premier League proven commodity Kudus has adapted well to life at White Hart Lane, chipping in with one goal and five assists in ten Premier League outings. The Ghanaian has been the standout performer, but it would be fair to say the other two attacking acquisitions have failed to hit the ground running.
Xavi Simons has struggled to get to grips with Premier League football after arriving for a big fee from RB Leipzig. The playmaker has registered just one assist in the Premier League, while his performances have been ordinary. Randal Kolo Muani, on loan from Paris Saint-Germain, is yet to break his duck for Spurs. As such, Thomas Frank may now have one eye on the January transfer window, at which point he could be offered the opportunity to sign a new striker with solid top-flight experience.
Thomas Frank holds direct talks with Ivan Toney
With Dominic Solanke still recovering from ankle problem and Richarlison back to default settings after a bright start to the season, Tottenham’s focus possibly will be on recruiting a striker in the January transfer window.
Thomas Frank is eager to reunite with Al Ahli striker Ivan Toney, having built a strong working relationship with the player during their time together at Brentford. Even talkSPORT chief correspondent Alex Crook has backed Spurs to sign the England international, claiming the striker would be a perfect fit.
Now, according to a report from TEAMtalk, Frank has held direct talks with Ivan Toney over a possible move to Tottenham. The Lilywhites are leading the race for the Al Ahli star, who is keen to return to the Premier League in the New Year to secure regular minutes and book a place in Thomas Tuchel’s England squad for next summer’s World Cup.
The 29-year-old has scored a truckload of goals for Al Ahli since moving from Brentford in the summer of 2024. But, he is unsettled in Saudi Arabia and seems to be eyeing a return to the Premier League in 2026. Due to financial complexities, the report adds a straight loan, or loan-to-buy agreement, is the only feasible solution. This would allow Al Ahli to avoid losses whilst providing Toney with an opportunity to play in the Premier League again.
Spurs leading the race for Toney
West Ham and Everton are also interested in Toney, but Tottenham remain the current favourites. The relationship between Frank and Toney remain strong, and knowing his former manager’s system and tactical demands, few would arrive at Tottenham mid-season with the assurance of finding the back of the net with regularity than the ex-Brentford star.
There is little doubt that Toney would be an instant upgrade on both Richarlison and Solanke. Having proven himself in the Premier League, a potential deal for the Al Ahli frontman would be risk-free for Spurs. And Frank holding talks with his former protégé shows how much keen he is to bring him back to England.
It’d be interesting to see how the Hotspur Way chiefs can persuade Al Ahli to let Toney leave in the winter window.
