Former Aston Villa man Gabriel Agbonlahor has tipped West Ham to materialise their interest in Brentford striker Ivan Toney.
Agbonlahor has cited Brentford’s record at developing talent, likening Toney’s seamless adaptation from Peterborough in League One to scintillating form in the Championship to the rise of Ollie Watkins.
Toney is front-and-centre in the race for the Championship top scorer race and has managed to score 24 goals and 9 assists in just 30 games.
Eurosport has previously claimed that Ivan Toney is one of many targets being explored by West Ham as they eye up a suitable alternative striker to Michail Antonio.
Speaking to Football Insider, Agbonlahor talked up the prospects of Ivan Toney succeeding at the London Stadium:
“West Ham have got to start looking at younger players. They’ve got to start looking at players that they could get a good six or seven years out of, rather than older players.
“We’ve seen what Watkins has done in the Premier League after coming from the Championship and there’s no reason that Toney can’t do the same.
“I think he’d be a great signing and he can give Antonio competition next season and push him for a starting place, maybe even take his place off him.
“It will add to Antonio’s game knowing that he’s not guaranteed to start every week.”
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A younger natural striking option, Toney could offer prolific threat and a well-roundedness that would meaningfully challenge Antonio.
Ollie Watkins as Toney’s predecessor is evidence that a smooth transition from regular scoring in the Championship to the Premier League is possible.
With 10 goals in 22 games, Watkins has certainly not let himself down with his scoring form.
