Preston may well go for another striker this summer, and Ivan Toney ticks many boxes.
North End need some pace through the middle, with Jayden Stockley and Louis Moult hardly fitting that bill. Seani Maguire may yet be able to recapture his form and fitness, but his end of season form was a concern.
Landing a striker with pace, but also the physical ability to play as a lone striker, is a difficult task. Since selling Jordan Hugill, we’ve struggled to really fill that role.
Of all the players that would be on North End’s radar – and by that, I naturally mean players in England, Scotland and Ireland – Peterborough star Toney would make sense.
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Toney has an enviable mix of attributes; he’s quick, he’s got good movement, he’s strong, he’s good in the air, and he can finish. It’s no great surprise that North End wanted him last summer, as we noted here.
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Preston were too late with their move for Toney, and he went on to Peterborough for just £650,000. Having hit 23 goals last season, Toney has shown that he’d be an exciting addition to Alex Neil’s side.
Sadly, it seems that we’ve simply missed the boat. Peterborough chairman Darragh MacAnthony has been asked on Twitter whether Preston have been interested in Toney, and he shot down any chance of a move to Deepdale.
MacAnthony believes North End would ‘never’ pay what the Posh would want for Toney. After all, Peterborough have earned major money on the likes of Aaron McLean, Dwight Gayle, Britt Assombalonga, Conor Washington and Jack Marriott.
MacAnthony’s understanding of North End is pretty much spot on. We’d have to break our transfer record to sign Toney at this point, and whilst he is quite the talent and has huge potential, it’s just not going to happen – and that’s a major disappointment given how ideal he would be now.