Newcastle United notably splashed the cash to bring in club-record signing Alexander Isak on a £63m deal during the summer window, with the Magpies finally ending their search to find a striking alternative to that of Callum Wilson.
The towering Swede was clearly not the only centre-forward option that the Tynesiders had been keeping tabs on, though, with CBS reporter Ben Jacobs claiming that the club had made an enquiry regarding the possibility of re-signing Brentford star, Ivan Toney.
That apparent approach for the Englishman had come four years on from the decision to allow the 6 foot 1 hotshot to depart the club, with the dynamic gem having joined Peterborough United on a permanent deal after making just four first-team appearances during his time at St James’ Park.
The Northampton-born marksman – who had initially made the move to the northeast from his hometown club back in 2015 – had spent much of his time at the club out on loan, having seemingly never been handed the chance to truly impress at senior level.
While that lack of action may be the fault of those who were in charge at the time, it could well be former owner Mike Ashley who is to blame for the inability to recoup a greater sum following Toney’s exit in 2018, as the one-time Shrewsbury Town loanee ultimately joined Posh for just £650k.
That minimal fee now appears an almighty blunder as far as Ashley and co are concerned, with Toney having since blossomed to spark a steep rise in his valuation.
How much is Ivan Toney worth now?
The imposing forward would go on to score 49 goals and provide 16 assists in just 94 games in all competitions at London Road over the next two years, before joining Brentford on a £5m deal in the summer of 2020.
That move instantly paid dividends for both the Bees and for the player himself, as the prolific striker bagged 33 Championship goals in his debut campaign to help fire Thomas Frank’s side to promotion, having since made a smooth transition to life in the Premier League.
Part of a side that has upset the odds in the top tier, Toney has 26 league goals to his name since the start of the 2021/22 campaign, having solidified his status as something of a “talisman” for the west Londoners, as per Statman Dave.
A player who has the “mindset of a lion”, according to his manager, the former Newcastle man has showcased that he truly belongs at the highest level, with his tally of 14 league goals this season only bettered by Harry Kane and Erling Haaland.
That remarkable hot streak has sparked suggestions that free-spending Chelsea could be interested in snapping up the Brentford man this summer, with the player having previously been valued at around £50m amid that interest from Eddie Howe and co in 2022.
Should Toney move on for that figure – or an even higher sum – in the near future, it would only further rubberstamp just what a mistake it was for the Magpies to have allowed him to leave for such a bargain price just under five years ago.