Journalist claims Leeds target Ivan Toney will cost £50m this summer

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Leeds United have been dealt a blow in their reported pursuit of Ivan Toney, with journalist Dean Jones telling The Football Terrace that Brentford value the striker at £50 million.

The Whites look set to prioritise signing a new goalscorer in the final weeks of the summer window.

Reports at the weekend claimed that Leeds were one of the sides keen on Toney. Jesse Marsch apparently views the 26-year-old as the perfect partner for Patrick Bamford.

That report surprisingly suggested that Toney was valued at £30 million with Newcastle also keen. However, it seems that the Bees do indeed want a lot more for their top goalscorer.

Jones has claimed that Brentford are looking for nearly double that amount. And he explained why Thomas Frank’s men want considerably more for the striker than previously thought.

“I was told if Brentford are going to sell Ivan Toney, he’s going to be £50 million,” he told The Football Terrace.

“To be fair, I asked the person, how can he be worth £50 million? And they were like ‘basically, Ollie Watkins left Brentford to join Aston Villa at a time when he had never even played Premier League football. And that was for £33 million. He’s gone there and he’s done pretty well in the Premier League. But actually, Toney has had his first season in the Premier League. He’s scored more goals than Watkins did last season. And he’s a bigger goal threat’.

“So he’s going to be at least £10 million more than that, but probably towards £50 million.”

Toney asking price takes Leeds move off the table

In fairness, it always seemed difficult to imagine Leeds signing Toney. Brentford have lost one of their best players from last season in Christian Eriksen. So they will not want to lose another.

The Bees will be looking to keep themselves in the top-flight for a third year. And with that, selling a key man to Leeds – who finished below them – is clearly not a good idea.

Leeds meanwhile, are unlikely to think that going anywhere near £50 million represents good value for Toney. He is someone Frank described as ‘special‘. But it would be a huge outlay for the Whites.

Leeds are surely going to spend a hefty amount on their new forward. However, it now seems that there is absolutely no chance of Toney ending up at Elland Road.