David Sullivan to push for Ivan Toney to West Ham United in bargain Brentford transfer move
David Sullivan will make a run at signing Ivan Toney for West Ham with a bargain offer to Brentford, according to Darragh MacAnthony.
The Peterborough United chairman told talkSPORT on 19 July that his Irons counterpart has “always liked” the England striker and backed him to test the Bees resolve in the transfer market.
Julen Lopetegui and Tim Steidten are looking to sign a new goalscorer and MacAnthony claims Toney would be the ideal option.
He said: “I think for me, the betting man [in me] would say, knowing what David Sullivan is like at West Ham, he’s always liked Ivan Toney.
“He’ll try and basically get him at a dropped-down bargain offer from Brentford.
“And I know the Brentford people and they’d be like ‘no chance’. But I know Sullivan will try, and if he had any common sense he would.
“It would be the best signing West Ham have made in 12 years, instead of a foreign striker for £70million who couldn’t hit a barn door.”
Tim Steidten after West Ham striker signing for Julen Lopetegui
Toney, 28, would almost certainly be an excellent addition at the London Stadium and the chances of Brentford letting him go for a supposed bargain price may be improving.
The Hammers have got a rough recent record in terms of signing strikers for big money as Sebastien Haller and Gianluca Scamacca’s struggles spring to mind.
But Danny Ings’ lack of impact proves that comparatively affordable deals for supposed proven Premier League options are no guarantee of success either.
The field appears to have opened up for Sullivan to get his man with The Sun reporting on 18 July that Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United have all ruled themselves out of the race for Toney.
That has apparently seen Brentford reduce their asking price to below £50million as the Irons and Tottenham are now the most likely destinations.
He has a year left on his contract but it is difficult to see how much lower they would be prepared to go to recoup some sort of fee before losing him for nothing next summer.
Jhon Duran had been identified as the top striker target at the London Stadium [The Athletic, 12 July] but after making an approach the club are said to have then cooled their interest [Sky Sports, 15 July].
At 28 Toney would not fit the profile of target that retains extensive sell-on value but nor does 33-year-old N’Golo Kanté and a deal has been pursued for the former Chelsea star as well anyway [Guardian, 18 July].
In other West Ham news, an “absolutely outstanding” player has been offered to Tottenham and Chelsea amid talks to join the Hammers.
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