Match of the Day pundit urges Manchester United to hijack Ivan Toney transfer

Manchester United have been urged to make a late attempt to sign Ivan Toney and hijack his move to Saudi Arabia.

Toney was left out of the matchday squad for Brentford's Premier League opener against Crystal Palace due to "transfer interest" in the striker. Toney has been linked with moves to several top clubs, only Al-Ahli have made an official offer.

"A lot of things going on with Ivan [Toney], especially with transfers, there's a lot of transfer interest," Brentford boss Thomas Frank told Sky Sports. "Because of all that, we've decided not to include him in the squad.

"I can't give too much away the day before. Of course Ivan is a top player, we all know that. He has been fantastic for us for four years but we showed last season we can cope without him."

And former Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy, who is now a regular pundit for BBC Match of the Day, believes United should enter the race to sign Toney as he will be a more reliable source of goals than Rasmus Hojlund and new signing Joshua Zirkzee.

In a column for the Daily Mail, Murphy wrote: "Joshua Zirkzee has made a dream start at Manchester United and looks a wonderful talent. But sorry to disappoint United fans, he is not going to be the answer to their goalscoring problems.

"The Dutchman is strong and skilful, but not a proper centre forward. He likes to come to the ball and is more comfortable as a No 10 or wide. His scoring record at Bologna was a goal every four games — not great.

"Unless United go for a genuine No 9 like Ivan Toney in the last couple of weeks of the transfer window, I think you can discount their top four prospects." Murphy went on to claim that signing Toney should be a "no-brainer" for United, given the fact Brentford need to sell him in order to avoid losing him for free.

"We know Toney has the swagger and Premier League experience and if Brentford are willing to let him go for £50million, it would be a no-brainer in my view for Ten Hag to get him," Murphy explained.

"They cannot finish in the top four with Hojlund as their only recognised centre forward. I come back to it again — Zirkzee will be a big asset, but his strength is joining in play and chipping in with goals rather than bearing the main responsibility."