West Ham target Toni ready to quit Bayern after bust-up with Van Gaal
24 Nov 2009 - 12:47:45
Having problems: Italy striker Luca Toni in action
Bayern Munich forward Luca Toni has alerted long-term suitors West Ham by announcing he is desperate to return to Serie A to revive his chances of making Italy's World Cup squad.
Hammers boss Gianfranco Zola is a known admirer of the striker and has been strongly linked with a move for the Italian, but Toni revealed he would prefer a switch back home to Serie A.
Toni wants out of Germany after falling out of favour with coach Louis van Gaal, who was put in charge during the summer as a replacement for Jurgen Klinsmann.
'I've had problems with him (Van Gaal) for the last four months,' Toni said in Gazzetta dello Sport. 'Everything has a limit. Our relationship is almost dead.'
Toni excelled with Palermo and Fiorentina and started for Italy at the 2006 World Cup before transferring to Bayern in 2007. He has not played for Italy since the Azzurri's first-round exit at the Confederations Cup in South Africa in June.
'I would like to go back to Italy to score those goals that will help me return to the national team,' he said. 'I remain the top scorer of all the Italian strikers active in the national team.'
Toni has struck 18 goals in 35 matches for the Azzurri. The 32-year-old forward, who is under contract with the German giants until 2011, has also been linked with a move to AC Milan and Roma.
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