David Sullivan turned down offer to sign Ivan Toney in 2020
West Ham fans will undoubtedly be unhappy with David Sullivan’s decision to turn down the offer to sign Ivan Toney in the 2020 summer.
Toney, who is now playing for Brentford, was on the back of a terrific goal-scoring season at Peterborough United, with 24 goals and six assists to his name in 32 league appearances.
According to reliable Hammers insider ExWHUemployee, the club were offered him, but Sullivan said no to the player and he ended moving to Brentford for a bargain initial fee of £5million. [Sky Sports]
Speaking on the West Ham Way podcast, Ex said, “The sad thing is that we were offered Ivan Toney before he left Peterborough United for a decent fee as Barry Fry and David Gill and Sullivan are mates.
“I think Sullivan turned it down and we were interested in him in the summer as well but they just didn’t want to sell.”
It’s ridiculous that Sullivan thought he was wise enough to say no to one of the most talked-about strikers in the Premier League today.
Even before the season began, the buzz surrounding Toney was incredible, perhaps more than there’s ever been about a striker playing for a newly-promoted club.
His numbers at Peterborough were ridiculous and one may brush those off as the quality in League One is low, but he went on to achieve even better numbers in the Championship.
He bagged 31 goals and 10 assists in 45 Championship games for Brentford and it’s safe to assume that the Bees would not have been promoted would it not have been for his performances in front of goal.
Even after promotion, he’s started well, with two goals and two assists to his name. Against Arsenal, where he did not register a goal or an assist, he put in his best performance of the season.
The way he dropped deep, pulled players out of position and dominated the two centre-backs was just a treat to watch.
Sullivan’s blunders have cost this side many times in the past and this could go down as another one of them.
The Bees take on the Hammers next season all eyes would be on Toney and what could have been if Sullivan had said yes. He would’ve been the perfect player to address their striker crisis.
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