Major blows hit Ivan Toney to West Ham move
West Ham look set to be disappointed in their hopes of bringing Ivan Toney in to replace Niclas Fullkrug.
German international Fullkrug looks set to leave West Ham after an injury-hit year-and-a-half at the London Stadium, during which he has played under three managers.
Nuno Espirito Santo is happy to leave Fullkrug depart having only been able to play him twice before another fitness issue.
Toney has emerged as a major West Ham target ahead of the January transfer window, with the Al-Ahli forward now being heavily-linked to a Premier league return.
England ship has sailed for Toney and tax to block move
But according to talkSPORT’s Alex Crook the chances of the 29-year-old coming back to the English top flight are very slim despite West Ham being a willing taker.
His hopes of making the World Cup squad under Thomas Tuchel are believed to require him to be playing in the Premier League, but the German may have already discounted him as a possibility for the summer.
And with the Englishman having only left Brentford in the same window that Fullkrug arrived at the London Stadium the tax implications of a move back likely block any chance of Nuno getting his man.
Crook said: “It’s difficult for two reasons. One, I think Ivan Toney‘s aware actually, even if he’s playing in the Premier League the prospect of him being part of that England squad at the World Cup is slim. I think Thomas Tuchel, in many ways, has already made his mind up when it comes to Ivan Toney.
“And two, same as when Steven Gerrard was speaking to Rangers, if Ivan Toney was to leave early he would have to write off a lot of money in terms of tax over there in Saudi Arabia. He only moved in the summer of 2024.
“Financially, is he really going to walk away from a £400,000-a-week contract? I’m not convinced boys, to be honest.”
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If Fullkrug is on his way out he joins the list of strikers who have thrived elsewhere who have headed to the London Stadium and flamed out.
His age, 31, was a potential issue when Tim Steidten signed Fullkrug from Borussia Dortmund but on paper he appeared to have the profile that could be dependable for the Irons.
- Sebastien Haller – £45 million – 48 Premier League appearances – 10 goals
- Gianlucca Scamacca – £30.5 million – 16 Premier League appearances – 3 goals
- Danny Ings – £15 million – 35 Premier League appearances – 2 goals
- Niclas Fullkrug – £27 million – 24 Premier League appearances – 3 goals
Gianluca Scamacca had seemingly been worn down by the pressure of being the answer up front after his big-money move from Sassuolo, just as Sebastien Haller and many others had done previously, so a more seasoned figure made some sense.
Fullkrug’s outspoken demeanour during his only run in the West Ham side under Graham Potter suggested he could have fit the bill if injuries didn’t bite, and if Toney is out of reach it looks like it’ll back to the drawing board yet again.
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