‘Be careful’ – Dimitar Berbatov warns Tottenham signing Ivan Toney could ‘breed problems’
Dimitar Berbatov has warned that Tottenham must take the current squad into careful consideration before making a move to bring in Ivan Toney.
Thomas Frank has been linked to bringing ex-Brentford star Toney to Tottenham amid injury and lack of production from his current strikers.
Toney may need to push to leave Al Ahli for Tottenham but with Dominic Solanke out and Richarlison copping heat for his Spurs performances Berbatov has weighed in on a possible January addition.
The Bulgarian scored 46 goals in 102 appearances in North London before leaving for Man United in 2009 but doesn’t feel the club has had a striker with an all-round game that compares to his since Harry Kane left.
Dimitar Berbatov backs Tottenham move for Ivan Toney
But with a possible more for Toney, 29, on the cards Berbatov believes it could be a sensible one for Frank, provided it doesn’t upset egos in the Tottenham squad.
In an interview with talkSPORT he said: “With Harry Kane… he was unbelievable, that’s why I love watching him. Now I don’t think Spurs have a similar profile like him, or me.
“About Ivan Toney, if he decides to go there the way he plays football is, let’s say, interesting, in a way, that he knows where the goal is. He looks calm under pressure. He can score goals, he can sure take penalties as well.
“So is he going to be a good fit? If you ask me, why not? Do Spurs need a striker to put a bit more pressure on the strikers already there? If it’s for good, yes.
“Sometimes you need to be careful because it can breed problems. Because football players, especially the strikers, big egos, big personalities. We all think we are the special one, the chosen one, and sometimes that can lead to more trouble in the team.”
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There’s a lot to like about the idea of Toney returning to the Premier League motivated to get into Thomas Tuchel’s World Cup and reprising his Brentford form under Frank at Spurs.
It’s unlikely to be cheap and his age might make a difference to whether it is deemed value for money, but if he could be a reliable focal point at the tip of the forward line Frank may see it as worth it.
How Solanke does if and when he can finally get a regular run under the new manager may be what makes the decision for the Dane.
And if a move is made it is hard to see Richarlison being long for the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The Brazilian has undoubted quality but after his difficult first season for the club it feels like the pressure piles back onto him as soon as he has a dry spell.
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