Tottenham leading race for former Premier League star as Frank eyes reunion

Soccer Football – Saudi Super Cup – Semi Final – Al Ahli v Al Qadsiah – Hong Kong Stadium, Hong Kong, China – August 20, 2025 Al Ahli's Ivan Toney reacts after getting a yellow card REUTERS/Tyrone Siu

Tottenham are leading the race to sign Al-Ahli striker Ivan Toney on loan in January. The former Brentford man joined the Saudi Pro League club in a £40m deal last summer, but is reportedly keen on a January loan return to Europe.

Toney is seeking a place in Thomas Tuchel’s England setup for next summer’s World Cup, and believes joining a top European club for the second half of the season will help his case. TeamTalk has reported that Tottenham boss Thomas Frank has already held talks with the player, as the pair have a strong relationship from their time together at Brentford.

The terms of Toney’s deal with Al-Ahli makes a permanent in January deal unlikely, as it includes hefty tax bill that would need to be paid to terminate his contract. The club also slapped a £30m price tag on the player, which many European clubs have already reported baulked at.

A straight loan or a loan-to-buy arrangement are the only viable paths to acquire Toney in January, which could suit all parties. Al-Ahli would protect their investment while the player gets his wish of chasing top-flight football.

Tottenham would get to add a top striker without having to commit a large sum. Thomas Frank’s men are understood to be on the market for a new No.9 and are likely to invest heavily for one in the summer.

Signing Toney on loan in the meantime could be a shrewd piece of business for the club. Toney will have fond memories of the Premier League and of Thomas Frank, from the pair’s time together at Brentford. Toney scored 36 goals in 83 Premier League appearances under Frank.

His best season came in 2022/23 when he scored 20 Premier League goals. He will know exactly what is required of him in Frank’s system. Spurs are also known admirers of Porto ace Samu as well as Juventus pair Jonathan David and Dusan Vlahovic.

Nadji is a football writer with over 10 years of experience covering the Premier League. His work has been featured on Football Fancast, Arsenal-Mania, and Arsenal.com, where he has built a reputation for delivering sharp analysis, engaging storytelling, and in-depth coverage of the game.