Man Utd star targeted by Premier League rival as Ivan Toney plan laid out
Manchester United are preparing for a tricky Premier League game against Aston Villa on Sunday.
Erik ten Hag’s side are full of confidence thanks to a run of four wins and a draw in all competitions in 2024. There has been a clear upturn in form of late – and the comeback from 2-0 down to win 3-2 against Villa at Old Trafford on Boxing Day will encourage them further this weekend.
In the meantime, there is a lot going on, including in the transfer market, despite the January window having passed. Things are already being set in motion for the summer, when United are sure to be busy, having refrained from doing deals in January.
With INEOS, Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Omar Berrada coming in, things could be set to change - and the latest headlines involving the club give a nod to that fact.
Eriksen ‘welcome’ at Brentford
Christian Eriksen joined United in the summer of 2022 following an impressive loan spell at Brentford. And now, having fallen down the pecking order after an injury, the possibility of him moving back to the west London club has been suggested.
Marcel Sabitzer completes Man Utd transfer after last-minute deadline day dash
Bees boss Thomas Frank would be delighted to have his compatriot back, having benefited from four assists and one goal in 11 appearances in the past. Eriksen is under contract with United until June 2025, but Frank has set the ball rolling.
He told Tipsbladet : "He will always be welcome back! Christian will always be. I think he knows that well. And we know he had a good time here. I understood well why he went to United back then, and I've said that publicly. I also think he's done well. Of course, he had an injury before Christmas for a while. But if Christian wants, he's very welcome."
Christian Eriksen has faded from view at Manchester United (Naomi Baker/Getty Images)Toney up for sale
The link between United and Brentford could go deeper this summer, with the Bees happy to sell star striker Ivan Toney. He was linked with a move in the January transfer window and although it didn’t materialise, he is now expected to leave in the summer instead.
“It’s quite obvious that Ivan Toney will most likely be sold in the summer,” Frank said on Wednesday. “It can be expensive to sell your best player but on the other hand, I also know that by the summer, he’ll only have a year left on his contract with us."
United are in the market for a striker this summer, with Anthony Martial leaving at the end of his contract. Although he wants to leave, Toney won’t come cheap for United, Chelsea or Arsenal, with a £100million price tag previously suggested.
Ivan Toney will be available in the summer (Alex Pantling/Getty Images)Neville highlights Man Utd problem
Gary Neville is concerned about the lack of leadership in the United dressing room and believes it could hinder the progress of young players.
Kobbie Mainoo has risen to stardom this season, while the likes of Omari Forson, Willy Kambwala and Amad Diallo are also pushing for game time. Neville matured in the United team with the guidance of players like Roy Keane, Peter Schmeichel and Roy Keane, but fears the current crop don’t have characters like that to look up to.
“It’s a massive factor, the dressing room that you come into as a young player and the influence and standard bearers in the dressing room,” Neville said on the Stick to Football podcast. “These United lads who have come through in the last five to eight years, if you’re a young lad coming through at Liverpool and Manchester City you’ve got a good chance, whereas if you’re at United now, you’re thinking who's guiding that dressing room.”
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