West Ham should have pursued Ivan Toney for £50 million instead of signing Niclas Fullkrug this summer, according to former Hammers striker Frank McAvennie.
The club spent £27 million to bring Fullkrug to the London Stadium [BBC], but the new striker picked up an injury while on international duty with Germany.
Ivan Toney, meanwhile, was linked to West Ham during the transfer window [The Sun], but ultimately made a £40 million move to Saudi Arabian side Al-Ahli [BBC Sport].
Speaking exclusively to West Ham Zone, McAvennie said, “I wanted Ivan Toney. £50million, there’s your money, done.
“I think he would’ve been great for West Ham but he’s gone off for the big bucks in Saudi Arabia instead. He should’ve been signed instead of Fullkrug.”
Many West Ham fans might share McAvennie’s sentiment, feeling that manager David Moyes should have made a stronger push to sign Toney, a proven Premier League goalscorer. However, Moyes will now need to adapt to Fullkrug’s strengths and hope the German striker finds his feet once fit.
Though both Toney and Fullkrug are similar in physical stature, their playing styles differ. For many fans, the extra expenditure on Toney might have been worth it to secure a striker with Premier League experience.
Toney has faced criticism for his decision to move to the Middle East, with many pointing to money as the main motivation. But his talent is undeniable.
The 28-year-old made a name for himself at Peterborough United, scoring 49 goals in 94 appearances, before becoming a star at Brentford, netting 72 times in 141 games.
Even with an eight-month ban for betting breaches, he was a prolific striker in the Premier League, finding the net 36 times.
While it’s far too early to judge Fullkrug’s career at West Ham—especially following his unfortunate injury—doubts are already surfacing over whether he was the right choice for the club.
Time will tell if West Ham made the correct decision, but for now, the missed opportunity to sign Toney is a lingering frustration for many fans.