£40m PL striker better than Nunez

Liverpool should have signed Brentford striker Ivan Toney instead of Darwin Nunez.

That’s according to Peterborough United chairman Darren MacAnthony. Speaking on his The Hard Truth podcast, MacAnthony suggested that Toney would score more goals for Liverpool than Nunez will.

“Let me ask you the next question. Darwin Nunez, £85 million, 23, Ivan Toney, 26. Who is the better number nine?” queried the chairman, who’s a Liverpool fan.

“Nunez might have a hell of a career, he might do really well for Liverpool, Liverpool like to be direct – let’s not joke Liverpool are a direct football team, all of our goals come from full-backs and crosses.

“We are a little direct and it suits us, there’s nothing wrong with that. You’re telling me an Ivan Toney in Liverpool’s team wouldn’t score 25 goals with those full-backs delivering. Come off it!”

Toney has undoubtedly got something about him. Having scored 12 goals in his debut Premier League campaign last season, he has five from six games this time around.

That included a pretty impressive hat-trick against Leeds United last weekend.

All of this has inevitably led to suggestions that he could leave Brentford for a team higher up the food-chain. He wouldn’t come cheap, though. According to The I this summer, the Bees would be asking ‘at least £40m’ for their top scorer.

At that price, and despite MacAnthony’s claims, Toney wouldn’t look like the most natural of fits at Liverpool. The 26-year-old is an immensely physical striker, not something you necessarily associate with the Liverpool forwards.

Then again, he does have a great touch, good link-up play and knows where the back of the net is.

Toney is also a Liverpool fan. In 2021 he told the On The Judy podcast that if Liverpool came in for him, he’d definitely be interested.

But for our money, £40m looks like a big fee for a player who wouldn’t be first-choice at Anfield. Brentford’s asking price may also be on the rise after a very good start to the season.

Toney may well be a decent fit under Jurgen Klopp. But unless the former Peterborough striker’s asking price drops unexpectedly, we wouldn’t put money on him joining The Reds anytime soon.