Brentford striker, Ivan Toney, has opened up on why his proposed move to Celtic never materialised in 2020.
The Englishman was a target for former Celtic manager Neil Lennon and has confirmed that he spoke to the club about a potential move when he was at Peterborough United.
Toney said [Diary of a CEO podcast], “I went up to Rangers, spoke with the manager there, which was Steven Gerrard at the time. We spoke a bit but then they said they had two strikers at the time and they were looking to get another in, so it would have been four strikers, and I think the formation they played was one up top.
“Then I went to Celtic, we spoke to Celtic, and I think it was the same there. I was one of three strikers or something like this, and at the time when I was moving, I wanted to be the main guy.
“The crucial thing was playing games, even though I back myself to compete with other strikers, I wanted to know when I first went through the door that I was the main man.
“I feel that when I spoke to the manager at Brentford he pretty much said you were the main guy and I don’t see anyone taking your spot.”
We all know what happened after that. Celtic spent £5m on Albian Ajeti and the rest, as they say, is history.
However, no player has the God-given right to demand first-team football at Celtic. When Celtic were in discussions with Toney, we had Odsonne Edouard and Leigh Griffiths at the club.
And despite the trials and tribulations of that season, Edouard was still the main striker at the club with Griffiths the able backup option.
Toney eventually moved to Brentford in a £10m deal so it seems that even if Celtic were serious about bringing him to Glasgow, we would have been priced out of a move anyway.
And with all the will in the world, Toney wasn’t going to walk in ahead of either of them, especially Edouard, and take that coveted first-team slot. He would have had to earn his place in the side like everyone else. It’s just a shame for him that he wasn’t prepared to do that.
In other news, Brondby’s Director of Football speaks as Celtic learn price tag for Mathias Kvistgaarden
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