Ivan Toney has once again found himself at the centre of Premier League transfer talk, with growing suggestions that the striker could be tempted back to England after a prolific spell in Saudi Arabia.
While Tottenham Hotspur have been mentioned as a possible destination, former Newcastle United midfielder Jermaine Jenas believes Toney should resist any move to North London and instead choose an emotional return to St James’ Park.
Toney left English football in 2024 to join Al Ahli, but his time in the Saudi Pro League has done little to dim his reputation. If anything, his goalscoring record has only strengthened his standing.
With 42 goals in 62 appearances, he has proven that his sharp finishing, physical presence and leadership remain intact. Unsurprisingly, several Premier League clubs are now monitoring his situation, with the idea of bringing him back to familiar surroundings gaining traction.
Despite strong links to Tottenham, largely due to his successful partnership with Thomas Frank at Brentford, Jenas has urged Toney to think carefully about his next step.
The former England midfielder, who knows both clubs well from his playing career, believes Newcastle would offer a far better platform for the striker at this stage of his career. In his view, the decision should not be driven by familiarity with a former manager, but by long-term stability, ambition and connection.
Toney’s rise to prominence is well known. After a short and largely forgettable spell at Newcastle in 2015, where opportunities were limited and confidence hard to find, he rebuilt his career through loan moves before finding his feet at Peterborough.
That success earned him a move to Brentford, where he flourished under Frank. Together, they helped guide the Bees to Premier League promotion, and Toney became one of the most feared strikers in the division.
Yet Jenas feels that a reunion with Frank at Tottenham carries unnecessary risk. Spurs remain a club in transition, with questions hanging over their structure and long-term direction.
Jenas suggested that managerial pressure could quickly become an issue in North London, creating instability for any new signing. From his perspective, Toney could end up walking into an uncertain situation, where expectations are high but foundations are still being laid.
Newcastle, by contrast, offer a clearer project. The club has Champions League football, a settled structure, and a fanbase that has always embraced its number nine. Jenas believes St James’ Park is a place where strikers are truly celebrated, and where Toney could quickly become a central figure.
He also pointed out that Newcastle are arguably just one proven striker away from completing an already strong squad.
Of course, Newcastle did invest heavily in attack last summer. Nick Woltemade arrived for a significant fee and has made an encouraging start, while Yoane Wissa has only just begun his Newcastle journey after spending months sidelined with a knee injury.
Both were brought in to help fill the enormous void left by Alexander Isak, who departed for Liverpool in a £130 million deal. However, Jenas feels Woltemade, in particular, is a very different type of striker to Isak and still has work to do to justify his price tag.
In that sense, Toney could offer something immediate and familiar. He brings Premier League experience, proven goals, and a mentality built on leading the line under pressure. His physical style, combined with his finishing ability, could complement Newcastle’s attacking players and provide the reliability they have sometimes lacked in big moments.
For Toney himself, a return to Newcastle would also carry emotional weight. His first spell on Tyneside may not have gone to plan, but football often offers second chances. Coming back as a complete, confident striker at the peak of his powers would allow him to rewrite that chapter of his career.
While Tottenham may appear an easy option due to past relationships, Jenas believes Newcastle represents the smarter, more fulfilling choice. With ambition, structure and Champions League nights on offer, St James’ Park could be the stage where Ivan Toney truly belongs once again.
