A major update on Michail Antonio has emerged from West Ham in the wake of Lukasz Fabianski’s shock return to the club.
Hammers boss Graham Potter showed a side of him few knew existed at the end of last season.
After predicting an “exciting and interesting” summer rebuild around younger players, Potter embarked on a ruthless cull of West Ham’s under-performing squad.
Wes Foderingham’s departure took the West Ham exit count to 12 since the end of last season with seven new players coming in.
It was reduced back down to 11, though, when Lukasz Fabianski returned to the club as his replacement.
The 40-year-old goalkeeper was angry with Potter over the way his Hammers exit was handled.
But Fabianski and Potter have buried the hatchet to seal his West Ham return, with the pair also answering a big question over competing for the number one role.
Is Potter getting the old West Ham band back together?
Fabianski was not the only long-serving Hammers star to be axed for Potter’s youthful evolution.
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The manager also released Aaron Cresswell, Michail Antonio and Vladimir Coufal.
Along with the returning Fabianski, the fantastic four had 33 years of service and over 1,000 West Ham appearances between them.
It was a brave move and many had long stated West Ham needed to overhaul the squad with young, athletic and hungry talent.
Some questioned whether it was also somewhat naïve of Potter when he then bemoaned a lack of leadership after opening the new season with three defeats and 11 goals shipped in the process.
Michail Antonio hugs the Europa Conference League trophy after helping West Ham to their first major silverware in 43 years
Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images
There has been a cautious wave of positivity washing around West Ham, though, since the £60m double signing of brilliant box-to-box star Mateus Fernandes and fellow midfielder Soungoutou Magassa.
Fabianski’s return may seem a backwards move given Potter’s pledge.
But given the circumstances it is perhaps the sensible and savvy available outside of the transfer window.
Of course many may have preferred to see West Ham go out and sign a young up-and-coming goalkeeper for the third choice spot.
That may have been a more progressive move but third choice goalkeepers across the Premier League tend to be older veteran gloveman – like Fabianski.
The international break came at a bad time for West Ham given the side got their first win of the season with a superb 3-0 triumph at Forest.
Major Antonio update from West Ham after Fabianski return
But Fabianski’s nostalgic return keeps the feelgood factor rolling.
Something that did not make Potter feel good was a new injury to striker Niclas Fullkrug on duty with Germany.
It was deja vu from this time last year when Fullkrug was ruled out for three months after picking up an injury with Germany.
It shows how brittle Potter’s options are up front with injury-prone Callum Wilson the only other senior striker at the club.
That has given rise to speculation Antonio could – like Fabianski – return to the Hammers fold a few months after being released.
West Ham star Niclas Fullkrug comes on as a substitute for Michail Antonio
Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images
Antonio rejected a lower salary, short-term deal to sign an extension with the Hammers.
The 35-year-old remains a free agent, meaning West Ham could sign him back up post transfer deadline day if they wanted to.
Now there has been a major Antonio update from West Ham after the return of Fabianski.
With Fab back could Antonio be next, is Potter getting even more of the old band back together?
Will there be another case of out with the old and in with the… old… at the London Stadium?
Well a close confidant of majority owner David Sullivan and vice-chair Karren Brady has revealed Antonio is still very much around West Ham.
Sean Whetstone says Antonio continues to train at West Ham, with the club’s Under 21 side.
Antonio still training at West Ham as future made clear
Despite not having a club, Antonio was still called up by Steve McClaren to the Jamaica squad for World Cup qualifying wins over Bermuda and Trinidad and Tobago.
Antonio was an unused sub in both matches, presumably with one eye on protecting him from an injury which might scupper signing a contract for a club side.
Could that club side be West Ham, though, is the question on everyone’s lips – especially after the injury to Fullkrug.
With speculation swirling around Antonio, the Hammers have now made their stance perfectly clear on the striker’s future once again.
Whetstone says his West Ham sources have confirmed that Antonio will not be returning to the West Ham senior squad as a free agent after the Fabianski U-turn.
The Hammers insider confirmed Antonio continues to train with West Ham’s under 21’s to retain match fitness.
But West Ham’s record Premier League goalscorer will not be adding to his tally or decade of service as the Hammers have confirmed they will not be bringing Antonio back on a short-term deal.
It comes after Hammers News revealed West Ham ruled out the idea in the immediate aftermath of Fullkrug’s injury.
The good news is West Ham hope Fullkrug’s latest blow is ‘nothing too much’.
The Antonio update comes after he told talkSPORT last month: “I’m speaking to clubs right now to see where the best offer is for me to go, and we’ll just see how it goes.
“To be honest, there’s a mixture, we’re talking to clubs here, we’re talking to clubs abroad, but I’m going to leave it very vague – talk to clubs in England and abroad.”
West Ham fans have been puzzled as to why Antonio has never sent a farewell message or video after 10 years at the club.
That has further fuelled speculation the plan had always been for Antonio to ride back into the club on his white horse.
But this update appears to rule that out once and for all.