Peterborough United Director of Football Barry Fry has revealed that David Moyes nixed a move for West Ham United to sign Ivan Toney in an exclusive interview with Football FanCast.
The Hammers failed to sign a new striker in the January transfer window and have subsequently been left with just Michail Antonio as their out-and-out forward following the exit of Sebastien Haller to Ajax.
Toney has been in electric form since he moved from Posh to Brentford in a £10m deal and has been front and centre of their push to win promotion to the Premier League.
Should West Ham have signed Toney from Peterborough?
Yes, what were GSB thinking?
No, he was too unproven
Brentford are currently fourth in the Championship table and Toney has scored 28 goals and laid on nine assists in 36 games.
Moyes returned to the Hammers midway through last season and was in charge in the summer, when Toney moved to the Bees.
Fry has revealed he held talks with Moyes and the Hammers about a deal for the 25-year-old, but the ex-Everton boss was cautious about signing him due to the jump from League One to the Premier League.
Speaking exclusively to FFC, he said: “I spoke to David Moyes and his team about him.
“They half fancied him. They thought it was a bit of a gamble from League One to the Premier League.”
Moyes also felt that Fry’s demands were too high, as he moved for £10m to Brentford, though he is now valued at over £16m by Transfermarkt.
He added: “And anyway, after all that, he thought I was asking too much as well!”