Former Liverpool star Jamie Redknapp hypothesised why Chelsea and Manchester United did not sign Saudi-bound Ivan Toney.
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Toney completed move to Saudi ArabiaJoined Al-Ahli from BrentfordChelsea and Man Utd opted against signing himWHAT HAPPENED?
The England international striker finally exited the Premier League on the deadline day as he completed a permanent move to Saudi Pro League club Al-Ahli. Toney was earlier linked with Chelsea and Manchester United with Blues boss Enzo Maresca publicly stating his desire for another striker, however, the 28-year-old finally opted to move to the Middle East.
AdvertisementGetty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE
Former Three Lions midfielder Jamie Redknapp opened up about the striker's move out of the Premier League as he suggested he was left surprised by the decision. He even tried to explain why the top English teams decided not to go all out for the Brentford star in the summer transfer window.
WHAT JAMIE REDKNAPP SAID
Speaking to Sky Sports, the 51-year-old said, "There’s not many No.9s that can do what he can do so I’m a bit surprised that nobody has decided to take him. You are guaranteed goals, penalties, things like that. He will bring lots to the equation. So I am surprised that no Premier League clubs have decided to take him.
"What might work against him was probably when he came back after the ban, he didn’t score the amount of goals that we all expected him to score and that might be why. I think if he’d have come and scored 11, 12 goals in that period and really been on fire, I think someone might have taken a real chance and thought this is still worth the money."
Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR IVAN TONEY?
The forward could make his debut in the Saudi Pro League on September 13 as Al-Ahli take on Cristiano Ronaldo's Al-Nassr away from home.
