Former midfielder Paul Merson has warned Ivan Toney he may never make the England squad again after his decision to play in Saudi Arabia.
The 28-year-old was keen to leave Brentford before the summer window closed, having been heavily linked with Chelsea and Arsenal, but ended up joining Saudi Pro League side Al Ahly.
Following the announcement of Lee Carsley’s squad for the UEFA Nations League, Merson spoke about the possibility of Toney not playing for the national team again, citing the example of Ronald Koeman, the Netherlands manager who left Steven Bergwijn out of the national team after his move to Al Ittihad, questioning the player’s ambition.
Merson said: “I think Koeman is right. I don’t understand Bergwijn’s decision. He’s got a lot of years left in his career. If the Saudi league is that good and they want it to be that good. It’s going to be there for another five, six, seven years – I don’t understand that. I don’t understand a 26-year-old.”
“I’m understand the older players, I really do. I can understand the case of Ivan Toney as well. There’s nothing here for him, Promotion Ufabet so he’s got to do that deal. But he’s going to find it difficult to get into the England team.”
“Especially with so many injuries, we don’t have a real striker except Harry Kane. If he’s not in this team, I don’t think he’ll be in the next one.”