In a recent interview with Football Fancast, former Premier League forward Dean Windass has labelled Brentford’s Ivan Toney as a good fit for Aston Villa. Windass said,
“He’s (Toney) a prolific goal-scorer. He’d fit Villa. He’s got the other boy from Brentford obviously (Ollie Watkins) who’s done well. It’ll be interesting to see the transfer window this year, in the sense of how many teams are going to pay big money. But yeah, he would be good for Villa.”
Toney’s Incredible Form At The Brentford Community Stadium This Season
It has been a season to remember for the Bees centre-forward as he has produced a string of match-winning performances as the focal point of Thomas Frank’s attack. Toney has found the back of the net on 16 occasions and secured five assists in 28 appearances for the Greater London outfit this term in multiple competitions.
The 24-year-old has managed to find some consistency with his all-round contributions on the field. The English marksman is averaging 0.7 tackles, 0.7 clearances, 2.7 shots and 1.2 key passes per 90 minutes in the EFL Championship this season. However, he has been sloppy when distributing the ball deep inside the opposition half as evidenced by his pass completion rate of 68.8% in league football (stats via whoscored).
The way things are going for Toney, it is no surprise that Windass is tipping him to be a good fit for the Villans, but there are some question marks over whether the Brentford star can raise his game to succeed in the Premier League if he gets a chance to do so someday.
What Does The English Frontman Bring To The Table?
Toney is a deceptively quick forward who can make some well-timed runs in behind the opponent’s backline. He has taken great strides towards improving himself as a goal-scorer this season and is currently one of the most prolific strikers in the EFL Championship.
The English sensation can even outjump his marker to win some aerial challenges for his team. However, Toney is still quite inexperienced at the highest level, so he could prove to be a risky option for a club like Aston Villa, where he might struggle to earn regular first-team chances.
Should Dean Smith Launch A Move for Toney?
At the moment, the Villans would be better off opting for someone with a proven track record at the highest level than settle for Toney. However, if the Bees forward maintains his high standards in the remainder of this campaign, then Dean Smith should think about listening to Windass’ advice by launching a move for the former Northampton youngster next summer.
