Director says Spurs wanted £5m striker as Harry Kane back-up last year, could cost £40m now

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Barry Fry says Tottenham Hotspur wanted Ivan Toney last year as a back-up to Harry Kane.

The 25-year-old, who played for Fry’s Peterborough at the time, was in extremely high demand following a 26-goal campaign in League One.

Former Tottenham boss David Pleat implored Spurs chairman Daniel Levy to sign him, while Fulham and West Ham also enquired, according to BBC Sport.

Toney ended up moving to Brentford for an initial £5million plus add-ons and he’s proven a bargain, given he’s scored 29 goals and claimed 10 assists in the Championship this season.

With the Bees now set to navigate the playoffs, Fry spoke to BBC Sport about the interest in his former player last summer.

“Tottenham wanted him as back-up for Harry Kane,” said the Posh director of football.

“Fulham tried to buy him but they asked to wait until the end of the window [which was extended until October] and we couldn’t wait.

“We needed to replace him and we would have got more for him if the global crisis didn’t happen.”

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What a missed opportunity for Spurs – a striker with plenty of years ahead of him contributing to 39 goals in the second tier that could’ve cost just £5million.

Fry speculates that Brentford could go for £30million to £40million, as per BBC Sport, and to be honest that would still constitute pretty good business for a top Premier League side.