AL-AHLI SAYS NO: IVAN TONEY'S £40M SAUDI MOVE BLOCKS JANUARY EXIT FOR TOTTENHAM
Ivan Toney's Premier League return is off. talkSPORT reveals the striker is settled at Al-Ahli, with the Saudi club refusing to sell in January despite interest from Spurs and others.
It sounds like Ivan Toney's potential reunion with his old Brentford manager, Thomas Frank, is looking less and less likely. Word is, he's expected to stay with Al-Ahli not just through January but possibly beyond next summer as well.
Since joining the Saudi Pro League's Al-Ahli in 2024 for around £40 million ($53m), the 29-year-old has fit right in. Right now, it doesn't seem like he'll be returning to play in England anytime soon.
Toney is likely to stay in Saudi Arabia
Toney has been a scoring machine, with 42 goals in 62 games, including 12 this season. This output has made him one of the league's top foreign players. He also helped Al-Ahli win the Asian Champions League and scored 30 goals in all competitions last season. But, with the 2026 World Cup approaching and England manager Thomas Tuchel not making any promises about who will be selected, people have been wondering if Toney might want to come back to the Premier League. Spurs, West Ham, and Manchester United have all talked about the possibility of bringing him back. Still, everything coming out of Saudi Arabia suggests he's staying put, as talkSPORT reported.
Al-Ahli firm: No sale in January
Al-Ahli's new sporting director, Rui Pedro Braz, is not planning to approve any sale or loan in January. The club, which has a lot of state funding, would only consider letting Toney go if they could find a really good replacement, which they think is very unlikely in the middle of the season. The Saudi team is also happy that Toney is content where he is. talkSPORT says that his representatives have told interested Premier League clubs that he is settled, gets paid well, and isn't currently pushing for a move. His contract lasts until 2028, and he makes over £400,000 per week tax-free, which makes any potential return difficult. On top of that, Toney needs to stay outside the UK until at least April 2026 to keep his non-UK tax residency. If he comes back too soon, he would have to pay a lot in taxes, which makes it even harder for English clubs to make an offer.
Braz mentioned: Ivan Toney is a great player, a top striker. The rumours about him possibly leaving in January aren't true. They're just not true. We're counting on him, so it doesn't make any sense to talk about this in November.
Toney is still hoping for an England recall
Even though he hasn't been playing much internationally, Toney is still hoping that doing well in Saudi Arabia will help him get back into the England squad before the World Cup. Between March and July 2024, he played five times and even made a difference at Euro 2024, assisting Harry Kane's winning goal against Slovakia and scoring in the shootout win over Switzerland. But since moving to the Middle East, he has only been called up once and has only played in England's 3-1 loss to Senegal. Still, Toney insists he hasn't asked Thomas Tuchel for clarification on where he stands in the squad.
He says: I need to focus on myself and give myself the best chance possible. Who knows? If I get selected, I'll do my best for my country, but if not, I'll be cheering the boys on. I don't expect to talk to him. I'm sure he has other things to worry about. My job is to do well. It is what it is. If you're good enough, you're good enough; it doesn't matter where you're playing. As long as you're doing the right things and scoring goals, you give yourself a chance.
Saudi League criticism dismissed
Toney has strongly defended the quality of the Saudi Pro League, despite some criticism from people in the European football community.
The level in Saudi Arabia is high. They know how to play football here. The players aren't as well-known as in the Premier League, but many could play there, Toney told The Guardian in September.
After a short break, Toney will be back playing against Damac in the Saudi League on December 19. At the same time, Tottenham will be trying to get back to winning after losing badly to Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain in their game against Fulham on Sunday.
HOW JAMES MADDISON’S INDIVIDUAL TRAINING SIGNALS A SHOCK SEASON RETURN
James Maddison returns to individual training as Igor Tudor prepares Tottenham for a vital relegation battle with Forest.
Ahead of Tottenham’s match against Nottingham Forest, manager Igor Tudor gave an update on when James Maddison might return from injury. It’s a crucial moment for Spurs as they prepare to host Forest in what could be the defining 90 minutes of Tudor’s time at the club and quite possibly a key fixture that will shape the season for both teams.
Currently separated by just one point, Tottenham and Forest are locked in a battle against relegation. A win would push Spurs four points clear of the drop zone, while a loss might drag them into the bottom three. The stakes couldn’t be clearer.
Tudor’s side heads into this game with renewed energy, surprisingly positive given the mood just two weeks ago. The draw at Anfield broke a six-game losing streak, and their recent 3-2 victory over Atlético Madrid, though not enough to overturn the aggregate score, brought back a sense of belief. Young players like Xavi Simons and Archie Gray impressed, while Mathys Tel kept the opposition on their toes. The atmosphere at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium was electric in a way fans haven’t felt for months. While the Champions League hopes are dashed, that performance has injected valuable momentum into Spurs’ survival fight.
There’s also some hopeful news on the injury front. Dominic Solanke, who missed the Atlético leg with a hip issue, might be available. His physical presence adds a different dimension to Tottenham’s attack, which Tudor will surely be glad to have.
But the most promising update came from Tudor’s comments about Maddison. The creative midfielder, sidelined since August after rupturing his ACL in a preseason friendly, has begun some individual training, spotted alongside Palhinha. Recoveries from ACL injuries are never straightforward, and the team won’t rush him back. With only seven league games left after Sunday, there’s a narrow window for his return. Still, even the possibility of Maddison getting back on the pitch—someone who can change a game with a moment of skill or a precise pass—offers a much-needed morale boost.
For now, though, the focus remains firmly on Forest.
WHY BORUSSIA DORTMUND EXPECT JADON SANCHO TO SIGN FOR FREE
Unai Emery praises Jadon Sancho despite poor stats, while Dortmund free up £21m in wages to lure him back to Germany.
Borussia Dortmund really want Jadon Sancho back, and they’re hoping to get him for free from Manchester United. Sancho’s contract runs out this summer, and honestly, no one expects United to offer him a new one.
Right now, Sancho’s on loan at Aston Villa. It’s his third spell away from Old Trafford since United signed him for £73 million in 2021. His move to Villa was just a loan with no option to buy.
Villa’s manager, Unai Emery, has hinted he might keep Sancho, but Dortmund aren’t sitting around. The Times says Dortmund didn’t chase wingers last summer because Nico Kovac liked the 3-4-2-1 formation, but now the boss has changed his mind and wants Sancho back.
If Sancho comes back, he'll need to take a hefty pay cut from his £300,000-a-week salary. Still, Dortmund’s where he made his name after moving from Manchester City in 2017.
Dortmund have room in the budget this summer; they let the contracts of Julian Brandt, Niklas Süle, and Salih Özcan run out. That saves them about £21 million a year, and they’re optimistic they can lure Sancho, who’s allowed to strike pre-contract deals with foreign clubs.
Sancho actually spent half of the 2024 season back at Dortmund after Erik ten Hag froze him out at United. He helped them reach the Champions League final, but nothing permanent came of it.
Something similar happened during his loan to Chelsea last season. The club even paid a £5 million penalty just to avoid having to sign him outright. Villa picked him up right at the transfer deadline in September, but, once again, he’s struggled.
So far, Sancho’s got one goal and one assist in 29 games across all competitions. Still, Emery thinks there’s more to come.
When asked in February about signing Sancho for good, Emery said, “Not yet, but he’s a fantastic player. Hopefully, he can help us by improving within our system, like he is doing.
“He’ll need a new contract; maybe it’s here. If he plays his best football, we’ll want him. But other teams will be interested, too.”
Must Read
