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West Ham United will wait before offering Michail Antonio a new deal [Credit: Imago]
Connor Burgess
Mon 16 December 2024 16:40, UK
West Ham United will wait until knowing the full extent of Michail Antonio’s recovery before offering him a new contract, according to Sean Whetstone.
Whetstone shared via his personal X account [15 December] that a renewal is not a guarantee, and while West Ham reserves the right to exercise the one-year option, they will in fact wait until assessing his recovery before reaching a decision.
The 34-year-old was involved in a road traffic accident on 7 December and will be sidelined until the end of the season.
Whetstone said: “West Ham will continue to pay Michail Antonio’s £85,000 per week wages in full for the remainder of the season and have no insurance to cover such an accident. Antonio’s contract will finish at the end of June next year.
“The club do hold a one-year option but will wait until next summer to decide if it will be exercised depending on the striker’s recovery. His agent is Will Salthouse.”
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Will Michail Antonio stay at West Ham United?
The football world was put on hold upon learning the news of Antonio’s accident, but thankfully the forward escaped serious injury.
He now faces a long road to recovery and will spend the next few months waiting for his injuries to heal before assessing when he can take to the pitch for the Hammers once again.
Therefore, it makes sense for West Ham to put contract conversations on hold for the time being – the utmost priority must remain on his recovery, and everything else can wait.
Antonio has been an excellent servant for the Irons and will undoubtedly be allowed to extend his nine-year stint in East London once he makes a full recovery.
Julen Lopetegui relied on the Jamaican international to lead the line for the Hammers in the absence of Niclas Fullkrug, and his loss will be a massive blow to their efforts this term.
However, some things are bigger than football, and his teammates have offered their support throughout the beginning of his long road to recovery.
All West Ham supporters will be eagerly awaiting his return to the pitch in claret and blue.
In other West Ham news, a transfer is one the cards for Emerson Palmieri after recent Irons claims emerge.
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