West Ham unlikely to sign Ivan Toney this summer
Reliable West Ham insiders Claret & Hugh have all but ruled out the Hammers’ chances of signing Ivan Toney after the revelation of a sell-on clause owed to Peterborough United.
The Hammers have been keen on signing a striker since January and had shown an interest in signing Brentford’s goal machine Toney.
Claret & Hugh reported that West Ham were in talks with the representatives of the former Peterborough striker last month, but it seems nothing concrete has come from them.
Now it appears that whatever little chances they had of signing him have faded as a 15-per cent sell-on clause in his contract means that Brentford will demand an inflated transfer fee as they’ll get only 85 per cent of the deal.
The quest continues
We knew we were in for a long summer right in January when we failed to get a striker through the door.
Our chances of signing Toney would have been high had Brentford failed to secure promotion to the Premier League.
However, after beating Swansea in the play-off final they’ve secured their top-flight status and now have the chance to make audacious demands as they know that Toney isn’t going to force a move unless something drastic takes place behind the scenes.
Toney has some Premier League experience, but it’s harsh on him to count it as he was a raw and unpolished talent at Newcastle who did not focus on giving him the right kind of push as Peterborough and eventually Brentford did.
Speaking on Sky Sports’ Soccer Special [March 16], ex-Palace striker Clinton Morrison waxed his lyrical.
“He has been outstanding. He’s the type of striker that can get 35 goals this season. He might be on that because he has been excellent,” he said.
The Englishman is currently 25, which we deem an ideal age to sign strikers as they’re nearing their prime and could give clubs at least four years at their very best.
Over the last two seasons, he’s proven himself as a reliable goal scorer, and we’re expecting him to do the same in the Premier League.
However, it seems that the finances involved will prise us out of the deal and we’re going to have to look at other options.
In other West Ham news, Hammers want to sign award-winning colossus with 37 goals last season – Report
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