Manchester United player who made five Premier League starts is fighting transfer flop status
Ivan Toney exit fear at Brentford as major West Ham United transfer twist emerges
West Ham United and Tottenham are favourites to sign Ivan Toney this summer amid worries from Brentford that they may lose the striker for free next year,
The website reported [22 July] that the Bees are growing fearful of Toney departing as a free agent next summer if they do not cash in now, and have consequently slashed their asking price to £50m.
The England international is a recent target of Hammers chairman David Sullivan and would signal a statement of intent from the club if they could attract the player across London.
West Ham are looking to remain ambitious in the current transfer window and make themselves favourites to sign Toney, although Tottenham Hotspur remain in the hunt depending on whether Richarlison stays in North London.
The West Ham chase for Toney is definitely one to keep tabs on, with the Irons demonstrating their willingness to spend a considerable sum already in this window, bringing in
Amid the consistent reports in each window linking Toney with an exit from Brentford, this summer signals the first time Thomas Frank’s side have begun to flinch in their stance on the striker as his contract slowly runs down.
Toney is likely to be keen to move on and has had his commitment to Brentford doubted at times, but the 28-year-old’s next contract will be the potentially career-defining one and this is a huge year for his future.
“When you are buying a centre-forward that leads the line and he is useful with flick-ons, holding the ball up and bringing players into play. You are looking for movement beyond. Both of them clubs have that. They have the runners beyond.
While the former is said to be attracting plenty of interest from a host of Premier League clubs including Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea and Arsenal, the latter is also in demand from clubs across Europe, including Wolverhampton Wanderers and Rangers.
But Brentford currently have an eye on both scenarios as it stands, with the Bees registering their interest in Whittaker as early as January, before returning back to the deal in the current transfer window.
