By Scott Allen
England striker Ivan Toney is not ruling out a summer return to the Premier League, which could rekindle West Ham’s interest in the former Brentford man.
The Irons were heavily linked with Toney during the January transfer window but a bid for the Al Ahli striker failed to materialise.
West Ham boss Nuno Espirito Santo instead signed Lazio’s Valentin Castellanos and Gil Vicente’s Pablo to beef up their thin attacking options for the relegation dogfight ahead.
Niclas Fullkrug left for AC Milan, leaving Callum Wilson as the only senior striker on West Ham’s books, and he was even reported to be close to an exit.
Unfinished business
Castellanos and Pablo are both hard-working forwards, but neither are the 20-goal-a-season hitman West Ham have been crying out for the last few decades.
Toney scored 20 Premier League goals for Brentford in the 2022/23 season, and has netted 23 league goals in the Saudi Pro league in consecutive seasons.
He’ll also be 30 by the time the summer transfer window opens, which fits with West Ham’s ownership ongoing strategy of signing old players past their peak.
The England striker admits he settled in the Middle East and claims he still has ‘unfinished business’ there, but has not closed the door on a return to the Premier League.
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Legacy
Toney told Talksport’s Darren Bent: “I want to win titles. I want to leave a big legacy for myself, my children and my family.
“I’m settled at the moment. With me, I can change my mind very quick so I take it one step at a time.
“Who knows what could happen. I would be open to it (a Premier League return).
“But like I said, right now I want to win some trophies here first before I think of anything else.
“Never say never, you never know what football brings and what’s around the corner.”
Relegation dependent
When pressed on rumours that he could be returning to UK shores, Toney was vague in his response.
Toney replied: “I never watch that stuff, hence why I have an agent. I let my agent take care of that stuff.
“Yeah, there were some clubs interested in me. But I said I was happy here, I’m focused here and I’ve got unfinished business to do here.
“My main focus was on playing football, playing well, enjoying it and getting goals for my team.”
West Ham’s chances of signing Toney in the summer rest heavily on whether they avoid landing the wrong side of the relegation trapdoor at the end of the 2025/26 season.
Another season in Saudi’s top flight banging in goals for fun is still a lot more preferable than slogging it out in the Championship in front of a half empty London Stadium.
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