The Official Football Merchandise Store
Declan Rice says he’s grown close to reported West Ham striker target Ivan Toney and a summer transfer would be laced with irony.
It’s undoubtedly going to be another busy summer transfer window for West Ham.
With the mega money departure of Declan Rice on the cards, the Hammers will be spending some serious money again.
West Ham must address a number of key positions with central midfield a clear priority if and when Rice is sold.
But sorting out the striker situation is not far behind.
The future of all three West Ham strikers Gianluca Scamacca, Michail Antonio and even Danny Ings looks uncertain beyond this summer.
Big transfer window on the cards for West Ham again this summer
So it is no surprise to see West Ham already being linked with interest in a number of forwards.
The Hammers are said to be monitoring the likes of Boca and Italy forward Mateo Retegui as well as Coventry City’s brilliant Swedish striker Viktor Gyokeres.
Ivan Toney is a player who has been heavily linked with the Hammers for quite some time now.
West Ham were strongly linked with a move to sign Toney previously (Eurosport and TEAMtalk).
Claret and Hugh even claimed David Moyes rejected the idea of signing Toney because he didn’t believe he would have been good value.
West Ham were once again linked with a move for the brilliant Brentford striker ahead of the January window (The Mirror).
The Hammers desperately need a powerful, pacy striker as the long-term successor to Antonio, who turns 34 next season.
Not signing Toney for £10m from Peterborough is one of the biggest regrets of West Ham majority stakeholder David Sullivan.
Declan Rice says he’s grown close to reported West Ham striker target Ivan Toney and summer transfer would be laced with irony
Now Rice says he’s grown close to reported West Ham striker target Toney and a summer transfer would be laced with irony.
Speaking on BBC MOTDX this week, Rice revealed he has grown close to Toney during their time together with England.
“To be fair I actually grew quite close with him at England, Ivan Toney,” Rice said when asked which player he could rely on to share good music with him.
“We’re on a thing (as friends) now where he’s like ‘Listen to this’ or he’ll send me something and he’s like ‘Get on this one’.
“He’s lege. He’s one of them you could share a headphone with him and you’re gonna be like ‘Yea this is sick’.”
Hammers move for Toney would be laced with irony
If Rice was staying at West Ham, one might hope his new found friendship with Toney might help lure him to the London Stadium.
But any West Ham bid for Toney in the summer would be laced with irony.
Because with Brentford reportedly valuing their star man at £50m (90Min), the Hammers would have to use a big chunk of cash from Rice’s sale to fund that move.
Speaking earlier this season Rice also raved about Toney’s ability as a player.
From the moment he’s stepped in the Premier League, he’s taken it by storm. If you look at what he has done for Brentford, he has been so consistent. Deserved his call-up.
He’s like Kane where he’s not just an out-and-out striker, but a playmaker too. His left foot and right foot passing, how he picks out teammates is a special technique.
Declan Rice on Ivan Toney, talkSPORT
MORE WEST HAM NEWS
Related Topics
Have something to tell us about this article?
The Official Football Merchandise Store
Liverpool
Chelsea
Manchester City
Arsenal
Tottenham Hotspur
Manchester United
Leicester City
Newcastle United
West Ham United
Barcelona
Real Madrid
Source link
