Newcastle United ‘enter race’ to sign a former star with Tottenham and Man Utd also ‘interested’

Newcastle United have emerged as one of the frontrunners to re-sign a striker who previously played for the club for three years.

The Magpies currently have a strong frontline which features last season’s top goal scorer Callum Wilson and club-record signing Alexander Isak.

But they are now linked with a blockbuster deal to re-sign a familiar face in Brentford striker Ivan Toney.

Toney was signed for Newcastle in 2015 from Northampton Town. The striker made just two substitute appearances under the guidance of Steve McClaren and was sent on a series of loan spells at Barnsley (twice), Shrewsbury Town, Scunthorpe United (twice) and Wigan Athletic.

The forward was not able to break into the first team, which at the time featured Dwight Gayle and Alexander Mitrovic and manager Rafael Benitez made the decision to sell Toney to Peterborough for a figure of around £1m.

Since 2018, Toney has gone on to prove himself as a prolific goalscorer and he is now viewed as one of England’s most talented strikers.

Toney scored an impressive 24 goals in 32 appearances during the 2019/20 campaign before the season was cut short due to Covid. He continued to thrive at Brentford the following season and fired the club to a first top-flight promotion in 74 years by scoring 31 goals.

Toney has remained consistent in the Premier League - he scored 12 in his first full season in the top-flight and fired in an incredible 20 goals last term.

The striker's career in football is currently halted due to gambling offences and he is unable to return to the Brentford team until 17 January 2024.

But his form in previous seasons has prompted the attention of some of the league’s biggest clubs including Newcastle United, according to FootballTransfers.

Football journalist Steve Kay claims Newcastle are in the hunt for a long-term striker who can regularly score 20 goals. Callum Wilson is currently 31 and his existing deal runs out at the end of the season, meaning the club may need a replacement soon.

However, the Magpies may face rival competition from Tottenham, who are looking to replace Harry Kane and Manchester United who are still recovering from the loss of Cristiano Ronaldo.

The 27-year-old was ruled out of pre-season training with Brentford but he is allowed to join up with his team mates from 17 September onwards as he prepares to return from his lengthy ban.