Transfer insider Dean Jones has provided his thoughts on Tottenham Hotspur’s reported interest in Brentford talisman, Ivan Toney…

What’s the latest on Ivan Toney to Spurs?

A report from Football Insider late last week claimed the Lilywhites are keeping a close eye on the 26-year-old’s situation with the Bees, with the Englishman believed to be negotiating a potential wage increase in west London.

The former Newcastle United man will likely not prove easy to prise from his current home with his existing contract set to run until 2025, while reports over the summer suggested that he is valued at around £50m.

According to the aforementioned Jones – speaking in an interview with Football FanCast – a potential move for the in-form asset would seemingly only occur should main man Harry Kane depart at the end of the season.

Asked about whether Antonio Conte and sporting director Fabio Paratici could pursue Toney ahead of next season, the respected journalist stated:

“I wouldn’t see Toney go to Tottenham unless Kane was leaving. I think that something like that would have to give before they would actually go into that discussion.”

Could Toney replace Harry Kane at Spurs?

This interest in the Northampton-born marksman comes amid the speculation surrounding Kane’s future at N17, with the 29-year-old having yet to commit himself to the club with just under 18 months remaining on his current deal.

While there has been talk that the England captain would be open to an extension, there will be a lingering concern that the academy graduate could be tempted to move elsewhere, with Premier League rivals Manchester United believed to be weighing up a potential approach this summer.

Trying to replace the long-serving sensation – who has also caught the eye of Bundesliga side Bayern Munich – would prove near-on impossible, with the 80-cap master having only recently surpassed the late, great Jimmy Greaves as Tottenham’s leading scorer with 267 goals in all competitions.

If the north Londoners are forced to fill the £200k-per-week man’s void, however, it may well be wise to turn to the second-highest scoring Englishman in the top-flight this season in the form of Toney, with the latter man’s tally of 14 league goals only three behind that of Kane.

The former Peterborough United ace has proven himself something of a goalscoring “monster”, as per journalist James Wokabi, over the past 18 months or so in the top tier, having scored 26 league goals since the start of the 2021/22 season.

Prior to that, the imposing asset had proven integral in steering Thomas Frank’s side to promotion after netting 33 goals in the Championship, having enjoyed a real resurgence after previously failing to make his mark at St James’ Park, where he featured just four times.

Much like Kane – who has been lauded as “complete” by footballing icon Thierry Henry – Toney does appear to offer more than just his clinical finishing prowess in attack, with that emphasised by the fact the has three assists to his name so far this season.

The physical forward will also have endeared himself to his potential future employers after scoring against Spurs’ bitter rivals Arsenal at the weekend, with the hope being that he could replicate such an impact for Conte and co.

Although no one at Tottenham will wish to see Kane depart any time soon, turning to the Brentford menace would surely help to ease that loss. Paratici ought to keep a close eye on developments heading into the summer, as a result.