Peterborough United chairman Darren MacAnthony believes Liverpool should have signed Ivan Toney from Brentford rather than splashing £85 million on Uruguayan striker Darwin Nunez.
Speaking on his Hard Truth Podcast, MacAnthony said he believes the Englishman is a ‘better number nine’ and suggested he would score more goals for the Red’s than Darwin Nunez.
“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 is a fan of the Merseyside club.
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“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!”
Standing at 1.85m tall, Ivan Toney is one of the best target men in the League, and it is likely he would thrive in this Liverpool side as MacAnthony suggests.
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However he has shown he has more to his game than his physical presence, with his hat-trick against Leeds including a 30 yard chip shot and a beautiful free kick.
Since Brentford joined the Premier League last season, the 26 year-old has scored 17 goals and registered 7 assists which makes a move to a bigger club even increasingly likely.
However, his signature won’t come cheap, with the Bees reportedly asking for at least £40 million.
Liverpool’s big money summer signing cannot boast a similarly impressive Premier League goal record. In the first six games of the season, the Uruguayan has only netted one goal in the three games he played and he missed the other three after getting suspended for headbutting Crystal Palace defender Joachim Andersen.
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Although it is still early days in Nunez’ career, the Liverpool hierarchy may come to regret not snapping up Ivan Toney for half the price.
Topics: Darwin Nunez, Liverpool, Brentford