West Ham transfer target Ivan Toney is threatening to run down his Brentford contract and walk away for free if he’s not allowed to leave this summer.
Toney will be a free agent at the end of next season and has refused to sign a new deal with the West London club.
West Ham and Tottenham are believed to be the last two interested clubs remaining, but neither are prepared to meet Brentford’s £50m asking price. Understandably, neither West Ham nor Spurs are willing to commit such a large outlay on a player who will be 29 in the new year and will have no sell-on value.
Clearly, Toney’s latest move is an effort to force through a deal, and my hunch is that he’ll sign for Tottenham for something approaching £30m. Spurs chairman Daniel Levy is known to be a particularly tough negotiator and has a habit of getting his way.
West Ham will still be in the race for Toney, but he’s not showing himself in the best light by trying to force Brentford’s hand. There has been some sort of breakdown between the two parties somewhere along the way, which is odd considering the club continued to back the player despite his ban from football for betting breaches.
No doubt Toney is a brilliant player and would improve the West Ham team, but I’m wary of the fact that so few teams have gambled on signing him despite his obvious quality. While Brentford’s price tag may be £50m, that doesn’t stop anyone from bidding lower. However, the Bees are adamant they’ve not received a single official bid. Strange!
Really disappointed with Big Ivan the Bees made him and stood by him he was a hero at our club and now the way he has contentiously treated Thomas and the fans is despicable get him gone take what we can get he’s not one of us no loyalty
Trouble is spurs would pay 30 where we would as usual put a derisory bid in ..probably 20 mil ..that’s why we miss out on so many targets..because we go to far below
What are we a football club or Gamblers anonymous? Tony has been great for Brentford, well before the ban at least.
Has done barely anything noteworthy since though.
I would keep well away from that transfer, don’t need Sullivan telling him to hold his beer and showing him who the bigger Muppet for gambling Is
Brentford supported him. If he wants to play hardball. Keep him and put him in the reserves till he goes on a free.
We’ve supported him when others wouldn’t and we can survive OK with out him.
Well, he may do some good for a while on the pitch, but do we need a loose cannon at the club? (I’ll leave it to someone else to list our existing/previous loosies.)
Brentford will not sell for 30m as all prem teams are loaded and if they did arsenal would be interested and spurs would lose out
Wasn’t it reported that Arsenal dropped their interest because they saw something in his character that they didn’t like? Not to do with money
His price will drop. He’s plainly not going to sign another contract, he’ll be worth a pittance next window and nothing the window after.
I can’t see anybody paying £50M it’s a daydream.
Approaching 29 with only a year left on his contract. Nope. No one’s paying £50m for him. He’ll either go much cheaper now or leave for free in 12 months. Brentford might have to take what they can in this window. Worth a punt at £25m 😁
Half of that valuation would be about right for Toney. In my perfect world I’d like to see Toney and Duran in our squad replacing Antonio and Ings….but I don’t have a magic wand right now.
Thought Brentford paid all his wages when he was sitting at home with his feet up as a result of being banned for gambling. Now he is showing his loyalty to Brentford by threatening them with running down his contract so he can have a bigger payday. Disgrace!!
Totally agree with you Brian…
Toney was a great player for us before his ban…now look at him..not really shown any enthusiasm for the club that done him well and put him in this situation…if that’s the thanks he’s going to give us…let him go…we’ve got another striker in the pipeline of Ivor Thiago…so far looking gd
Levy won’t pay anything like 30mill for a 29 year old
Brentford still owe West Ham a favour, after taking £24mil. for Said Benrahma
If they are expecting any club to pay £1mil. for every week he has left on his contract…?!
That was all down to Moyes. Never a Moyes type of player.
Agreed. He’ll go to Spurs. Not us. Certainly not spending £50m on him now
I’d bid £25m and see what happens. He’s the best bet out of all the realistic rumours. Duran Duran is untested, but would be my second choice. But would he be Hungry Like the Wolf or just a Union of the Snake?
I agree. With Toney, we’re looking at a player who could turn our season from an “Ordinary World” into something extraordinary. If he has the drive and determination, he could become a “New Moon on Monday” for the team, bringing new energy and a “View to a Kill” for our rivals. But “this is planet earth” and like “Rio” being sold to Leeds, and as Gonzo said, I could see Toney going to Tottenham.
Oh god please stop
There is many more ‘Too Much Information”, “Notorious”, “Is There Something I Should Know”, ” None Of The Above” :p