Ivan Toney is not Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi – he has not achieved enough to deserve an expensive transfer abroad.
This is the view of Simon Jordan, who has commented on the possible move of the Brentford striker to Saudi Arabia.
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The Pitch Prospect reported earlier this month that Al-Ahli were trying to secure the services of the 28-year-old in order to link him up front with Roberto Firmino and Riyah Mahrez.
And we have now learned that personal terms have been agreed which would see the England international earn £50 million over three years.
At present, an agreement on the transfer fee has yet to be reached between Brentford and Al-Ahli. The Bees are still insisting on a transfer fee of just under £50 million for Toney, who was left out of the squads for the first two matchdays.
Meanwhile, Chelsea remain interested in signing the former Newcastle striker, while Enzo Maresca has his sights set on a proven No.9.
And former Crystal Palace owner and The Pitch Prospect presenter Jordan wants Toney to stay in England – despite the riches on offer in the Middle East.
Regarding Toney’s potential earnings on the White and Jordan show, he said: “If it’s £50 million and he’s there for three years, he’ll probably get the money tax-free if he stays there for the full three years.”
“It will be worth about £80-85 million if you don’t pay tax on it. I find that sad.”
“I think it’s sad for him that he’s put himself in a situation where he’s revered as one of the best strikers in competitive football.
“And now he will play in a league where there is no competition.
“I understand that it is easy for me to say the opposite, but there are certain things that are more valuable.
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“He would still earn around £10-15m playing in English football, even if he was transferred elsewhere.”
“I suspect that the economics of the deal will benefit many people around him.”
When asked by co-host Jim White whether it would be foolish of Toney to turn down a contract worth more than £310,000 a week, Jordan replied: “It depends on what you want from football.”
“If you can earn £200,000 a week playing in the Premier League, have a meaningful football career and play for your country, it depends on what that’s worth to you.
“If you don’t value that and football has always been about money, then go to Saudi Arabia and play in an uncompetitive league.”
“I don’t care about the lure of Cristiano Ronaldo. He had an outstanding career in which he won everything, achieved everything, played for every important player and had the right to retire.”
“And the same with [Lionel] Messi [to MLS]not Ivan Toney, he didn’t do very much.
“He gave himself the chance to be an English striker. Money comes and goes – ‘it’s a short career’. It can be a short career when you’re earning £10 million a year, which is what he would have earned if he had gone to another Premier League football club.”
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