Tottenham Hotspur are in a position to move for Ivan Toney in January
Ivan Toney’s potential return to the Premier League continues generating headlines, with Tottenham Hotspur among several clubs monitoring the striker’s situation at Al-Ahli. However, significant obstacles stand between the 29-year-old and a January transfer back to England.
The primary complication involves taxation. Players who relocate to Saudi Arabia for lucrative tax-free contracts must remain outside the UK for nearly two years to avoid their earnings becoming retroactively taxable. Toney faces losing approximately £14million if he abandons his Saudi adventure prematurely.
As reported by Tottenham News, Former Tottenham striker Darren Bent addressed the situation during a live talkSPORT discussion, acknowledging the enormous financial sacrifice Toney would need to make. However, Bent identified two key figures who could potentially persuade the England international to swallow that bitter pill.
According to Bent, England manager Thomas Tuchel holds the power to unlock this deal. If Tuchel provides concrete assurances about Toney’s World Cup prospects, the conversation shifts dramatically. He said (h/t Tottenham News):
“If Thomas Tuchel said to me, ‘Definitely, listen, if you come back, play a few games, get yourself fit, I’m definitely picking you’, then that’s a bigger conversation. And I’d probably go, ‘I’m gonna have to [come back]’.”
He continued:
“Unless Thomas Tuchel’s said to him, ‘Ivan Toney, if you come back you’re definitely in the squad’, I’m not coming back for that. Unless I’m coming back for one of the absolute big boys that are playing Champions League week in and week out and have got a chance of winning trophies then what am I coming back for?”
Bent’s assessment highlights the harsh reality facing Tottenham. Without Champions League football or genuine silverware prospects, convincing Toney to sacrifice millions becomes extraordinarily difficult, unless World Cup participation enters the equation.
When pressed specifically about Tottenham’s chances, Bent initially expressed skepticism before identifying their secret weapon, stating:
“The bonus that Spurs might have where he might go, ‘Do you know what?’ is he knows Thomas Frank, and Thomas Frank likes him.
“So that might be a scenario where Thomas Frank goes, ‘Listen, I’ve got Dom Solanke, I’ve got Richarlison, not quite doing it for me, can’t stay fit, not really prolific. You come back, get yourself fit, you know you’ll play, you know how I operate, I got the best out of you when you were at Brentford. We work well together, you know the standards I expect’. So that is where Spurs might have the upper hand.”
Frank extracted Toney’s best football during their time together in west London, transforming him into one of the Championship’s most feared forwards before he starred in the Premier League. That track record provides genuine credibility when discussing Toney’s potential role at Tottenham.
Summer move more realistic than January
Despite the intriguing dynamics at play, a winter transfer appears unlikely given the tax complications. Summer 2026 represents a far more realistic window for Toney’s Premier League return, allowing him to avoid the substantial financial penalty.
By then, Frank’s presence could prove decisive, assuming he remains Tottenham manager. The club’s notorious history of managerial turnover creates uncertainty, and some observers question whether Frank deserved the opportunity to replace Ange Postecoglou in the first place.
Toney’s World Cup ambitions also face steep odds regardless of when he returns. Harry Kane remains England’s undisputed first-choice striker, and even Dominic Solanke likely ranks ahead of Toney in Tuchel’s pecking order barring injury disasters.
Still, if Tottenham secure European qualification and Frank survives until summer, their unique selling point (the manager who knows exactly how to maximize Toney’s talents) could make all the difference in what promises to be a competitive pursuit.