West Ham have been tipped to lose out on a “brilliant player” to their bitter rivals.
While their defence was absolutely atrocious last season, you do have to wonder how things could have been different if they had a proper striker performing throughout the campaign. Obviously Michail Antonio improved towards the end of the season and Jarrod Bowen scored plenty of goals, but they still clearly missed having an in-form No.9.
It’s not a new issue though, it’s actually one they’ve had for a number of years. Everyone is aware about how poor Antonio’s match fitness is and it’s why they’ve tried to find a successor on a number of occasions. Unfortunately, their efforts haven’t paid off so far.
However, it is clearly an area the recruitment team are determined to get right with a number of top quality strikers being considered. Disappointingly, according to one pundit, they could be about to lose out on one of the most exciting targets to Tottenham Hotspur.
Various sources have linked the Hammers to Ivan Toney. The Brentford striker does have a number of clubs after him, but there’s no reason to suggest the East London side couldn’t afford him. Former Spurs keeper Paul Robinson believes that they won’t be able to beat his former side to Toney’s signature.
“There’s no better opportunity to go and get Ivan Toney,” Robinson told Football Insider. “Arsenal had been linked with him since January with a huge clamour that they could sign him in January, but that link has gone away.”
“It looks like Tottenham will go up against West Ham for his signature. If it’s Tottenham against West Ham, you’d like to fancy your chances from a Tottenham point of view of persuading him to join. They can get a brilliant player in Toney, with his international experience, a proven goalscorer in the Premier League with Brentford.”
“Tottenham will be disappointed if they miss out. If the club want him, go and get him now, there will not be a better opportunity.”
Considering how much Toney seemingly cares about his image, going to the club known for being bottlers would be a bit baffling. Of course they’ve got European football, but West Ham have won a major European trophy just a year ago and, with his help, could very well be back in Europe again after this season.
Tottenham are seen as a “bigger” club than West Ham but in recent years it’s become more and more confusing at to why.
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