Al-Ahli striker Ivan Toney is prepared to reject a potential transfer to Juventus in order to maintain his pursuit of a place in England's 2026 World Cup squad. The 29-year-old forward, currently the Saudi Pro League's top scorer with 18 goals, believes his prolific form in the Middle East offers the strongest pathway to international selection under manager Thomas Tuchel.
Al-Ahli striker Ivan Toney is prepared to reject a potential transfer to Juventus in order to maintain his pursuit of a place in England's 2026 World Cup squad. The 29-year-old forward, currently the Saudi Pro League's top scorer with 18 goals, believes his prolific form in the Middle East offers the strongest pathway to international selection under manager Thomas Tuchel.
Toney acknowledged the established role of captain Harry Kane, whom he described as "the best finisher in football" with "outrageous" numbers. His personal ambition is to secure the role as Kane's understudy. He emphasized the competitive nature of the Saudi league and credited his teammates at Al-Ahli for providing the service that allows him to thrive, stating his situation gives him a valuable chance to impress.
Juventus manager Luciano Spalletti has identified Toney as a January transfer target to bolster his attacking options as the club enjoys a strong run of form. However, with the deadline imminent, Toney's primary focus remains fixed on the international stage. He views the upcoming tournament as potentially his only opportunity to play in a World Cup and is therefore prioritizing consistent goal-scoring performances at his current club.
His recent form supports his candidacy; a hat-trick last week extended his lead in the domestic scoring race to two goals ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo, who sits third. By choosing to remain in Saudi Arabia, Toney is betting that his output there will be more persuasive to the England selectors than a mid-season move to a new league and system.
