A football club chairman thinks he knows who the winner will be between Spurs and West Ham for striker Ivan Toney.
West Ham and Tottenham Hotspur are the last clubs standing in the race for Ivan Toney this summer it is being reported.
It was not that long ago that it seemed there would only be one winner for the Brentford and England star.
And that was neither West Ham or Tottenham but London rivals Arsenal instead.
So there was serious encouragement for the Hammers and Spurs recently when it emerged the Gunners had withdrawn their interest after a meeting with Toney went badly.
West Ham are currently prioritising signing a new striker.
Journalist Graeme Bailey confirmed West Ham do have an interest in Toney this summer.
And Tottenham are hoping to offload Richarlison as they scour the market for a striker to follow in the footsteps of Harry Kane.
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West Ham and Spurs in two-way battle for Toney
Tottenham Hotspur boss Ange Postecoglou has made it abundantly clear to Daniel Levy he wants a new striker.
That has pitted West Ham and their fierce rivals Tottenham against one another for Toney but there has been claim and counter claim of late with little substance.
For example it was recently claimed Spurs had trumped West Ham by bidding for Toney.
Then Sky Sports journalist Florian Plettenberg stated Toney could be leading the line for West Ham next season with Brentford wanting between £30-40m.
A new report from The Sun has confirmed it is now a two-way fight in the race to sign the 28-year-old with West Ham in one corner and Spurs the other.
And a club chairman thinks he knows winner between Spurs and West Ham for striker Toney.
West Ham’s majority owner David Sullivan is a billionaire living the dream of owning his boyhood club.
But even he lives with regrets that haunt him.
Chairman thinks he knows winner of Toney battle
Sullivan lists his decision not to act on the advice of close friend Barry Fry and sign Toney from Peterborough for just £10m among the worst of all his time in football.
Peterborough chairman and successful businessman Darragh MacAnthony knows Sullivan well.
It was he who revealed Sullivan’s deep regret at having missed out on Toney previously.
And MacAnthony believes he won’t make the same mistake again as he backs West Ham to beat Tottenham to Toney.
“For me, the betting man would say, knowing what Sullivan is like at West Ham, he has always loved Ivan Toney,” MacAnthony said about the two-horse race between the Hammers and Spurs for the striker when speaking on talkSPORT (July 19, 12.24pm).
“He (Sullivan) will try and basically get him at a drop-down bargain off Brentford. And I know that Brentford people in there will be like no chance.
“But I know Sullivan will try, and if he had any common sense, he would because that would be the best signing that West Ham have made in 12 years instead of some foreign players for £70 million who couldn’t hit a barn door.”
Sullivan getting Brentford bargain is not far-fetched
Pictures of Toney celebrating with West Ham star Jarrod Bowen at the Euros had the club’s fans dreaming of a potential new forward line next season.
If MacAnthony is right that dream could soon become a reality.
Toney would be the perfect foil for West Ham’s array of attacking talent.
The same argument could be made for Spurs of course.
MacAnthony’s suggestion that Sullivan could get Toney for a knock-down price is not as far-fetched as it may seem either.
The ex Newcastle academy star turns 29 next season and his value has already taken a hit with clubs like Arsenal and Chelsea dropping out of the race following his ban for breaking betting rules.
Brentford have also made life difficult for themselves by signing and announcing Toney’s replacement Igor Thiago all the way back in February.
Usually that would be seen as good business to get the replacement for a star player in the door before selling him.
But in this case, the likes of West Ham and Spurs know Brentford cannot go into next season with Toney on the bench behind his heir.
So the buying clubs hold a distinct advantage in negotiations.
Toney was a late comer to the Premier League and has scored 36 goals in the top flight in the last three seasons.
He has played in all four professional leagues in England for a variety of teams and his career tally stands at 164 goals in 408 games.
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