Darragh MacAnthony believes if West Ham chairman David Sullivan had “just an ounce of common sense” he would try to sign Ivan Toney.
The Brentford striker was the subject of transfer speculation for months last year, with Arsenal and Manchester United among the clubs interested in signing him.
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However, due to the betting fraud charges and the subsequent eight-month ban, any possible transfers last season were void.
He returned to football in January, representing England at Euro 2024, where he scored a penalty in the perfect quarter-final shoot-out against Switzerland.
The Pitch Prospect reported last month that Brentford would refuse to sell England striker Ivan Toney for less than £60 million.
But the owner of Toney’s former club, League One Peterborough, believes he knows exactly the man who would try to secure the Bees’ talisman at a reduced price.
Speaking on The Pitch Prospect’s White and Jordan about where he thinks the England striker will go next, MacAnthony said: “I think for me the betting man [in me] would say, knowing what David Sullivan is like at West Ham, he always liked Ivan Toney.
“He will try to get him from Brentford at what is essentially a reduced bargain deal.
“And I know the people at Brentford and they would say, ‘No chance’. But I know Sullivan will try and if he had an ounce of common sense he would do it.”
“It would be the best signing for West Ham in 12 years, instead of a £70m foreign striker who couldn’t even hit a barn door.”
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He then confirmed reports that Manchester United had previously shown interest in Toney – and the Red Devils were not the only ones.
“They would have liked to sign him and should have signed him,” he said. “And the underdog – and don’t forget where I live because I live in America – is Tottenham.”
“And I think if they got rid of Richarlison and got him, they would finally have a top-three team that reflects his style and does what he wants.”
And despite reports that Posh are expecting a large sell-on fee for their former player, MacAnthony clarified that the sum will not be as high as some media outlets have claimed.
He said: “Sky came out and said I would get 15 to 20 million [pounds for Toney]I thought, “What are you doing?”
“Every club we try to buy thinks we’re rich. If Newcastle and everyone else get their share, we’ll probably get three, four or five million.”
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When asked about the rumors that Toney wanted a high salary, MacAnthony said: “That’s nonsense and I know it. I know his agent very well.”
“I speak to his agent every week because he has two of our players.”
Toney’s current contract with Brentford has one year left to run.
He signed for the Bees in the Championship in 2020, joining from Peterborough for a transfer fee of £5 million (around £10 million with add-ons), Posh’s transfer record.