West Ham United manager David Moyes has revealed that he and the Hammers considered signing Brentford striker Ivan Toney while he was at League One side Peterborough United.
Toney has been a superb acquisition for Brentford since signing him from the Posh for £5m in September 2020, scoring 59 goals in 106 appearances in all competitions, including 23 in the Premier League 33 in the 2020/21 season to take Brentford into the Premier League.
Prior to his move to London, Toney was at Peterborough and during his two full seasons there, scored 49 goals in 96 games in all competitions for the League One side.
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Ahead of West Ham hosting Toney’s current side Brentford on Friday evening, Moyes has said that he and his staff knew a lot about him prior to him leaving Peterborough and considered putting together a launch to sign him, although such a move did not materialise.
“He has done brilliantly well,” said Moyes. “His step up, you talk about players who step up through the leagues.
“I remember seeing him a little bit for Wigan on loan. Then he went to Peterborough. We had a scout who lived in Peterborough - Robbie Cook, died a couple of years ago - and we were watching Ivan Toney loads and loads. Would we, wouldn’t we, would we, wouldn’t we. We probably missed out when he was £9-10m (Sic £5m) from Peterborough to Brentford. It might have ended up more than that.
“We looked a lot at Ivan Toney at that time. He has turned out to be a super player and a handful for every team. That was when I was here. No, it never got close. We watched and we talked and we looked but we never did, it never materialised.”
Moyes and his side now must prepare for the test of facing Toney and the Bees on Friday night, with Toney netting 11 in 15 games already this season, just two league goals less than the entire Hammers squad.
Moyes praised Toney’s qualities up front and believes that his strike partnership with Bryan “Mbuemo causes teams problem, reminiscent of a more traditional strike partnership,” added Moyes.
“I think his all-round play as a target-man striker is a bit unusual. You don’t see many in the Premier League.
“His ability to link with Mbuemo is very, very good, nearly back to the olden days with one big striker and one small striker.
“I think they have got an incredible combination and incredible ability to understand where one another is on the field. They are a real handful, the two of them.”
Moyes’ recent comments on Toney come amid an ongoing investigation from the FA over 262 breaches of its gambling laws. Toney has until Wednesday, January 4 to respond to the charges.
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