Watkins faces Toney clash as strikers push for Saudi supremacy and Tuchel’s attention
Ollie Watkins and Ivan Toney, England teammates who briefly played together in the World Cup third-place match against France, will face each other on Tuesday when new Al-Hilal signing Watkins lines up against Toney's Al-Ahli in a top-of-the-table Saudi Pro League clash in Riyadh. The match is likely to draw close attention from England head coach Thomas Tuchel, who is assessing candidates to become Harry Kane's understudy as a new international cycle begins.
Toney joined Al-Ahli two years ago and has scored prolifically, netting 23 league goals in his first season and 32 in his second, while helping the club win back-to-back Asian Champions League titles; he has four goals in three games so far this season. Watkins arrives at Al-Hilal, a dominant force with 19 domestic and four Asian titles, for a reported fee of just over £50m, joining a side that has scored nine goals in its first two league matches and features Rúben Neves, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic and Crysencio Summerville in support, though Saudi transfer spending overall has cooled since the record £700m splurge of summer 2023.
In short
- Watkins' Al-Hilal face Toney's Al-Ahli in Saudi Pro League on Tuesday.
- Both England strikers vie to be Harry Kane's understudy under Tuchel.
- Watkins joined for ~£50m; Toney has won two Asian titles at Al-Ahli.
Explained simply
The Saudi Pro League is the top division in Saudi Arabian football. Al-Hilal and Al-Ahli are among its leading clubs: Al-Hilal has a long record of domestic and Asian titles, while Al-Ahli has recently won the Asian Champions League twice.
Ollie Watkins and Ivan Toney are England forwards competing for places behind captain Harry Kane. Toney has played for Al-Ahli for two years and scored regularly; Watkins has joined Al-Hilal after playing in England. Their meeting brings two potential England selections into direct competition.
England manager Thomas Tuchel is assessing who could support Kane as a new international cycle begins. Their club form may inform that choice, though performances in Saudi Arabia are only one part of the picture.
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