West Ham could replace Michail Antonio with a player just like him after entering the race for a £12m star after he destroyed Edson Alvarez’s Mexico.
West Ham look set to say goodbye to Michail Antonio after nine years.
Talks between the Hammers and Antonio over a new deal collapsed at the weekend.
It is stated Antonio and his agent are not happy with the terms of the new West Ham contract and have better offers elsewhere which they are now considering for when his deal expires this month.
It came after Antonio admitted he could be set to leave West Ham as he recovers from breaking his leg in four places during that horrific car crash at Epping Forest in December.
West Ham’s board wished Antonio ‘the best of luck for the future’ in a revealing message via a top club insider.
Antonio set to leave West Ham after nine years
Several journalists, including Jacob Steinberg, have now claimed Antonio is set to depart.
West Ham then released an official statement on the situation yesterday, making it clear an announcement will be made in due course but revealing he will be listed as a free agent in the meantime.
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“Given Michail Antonio’s unique situation, following his serious road traffic accident in December 2024, there will be no formal decision and announcement on his future until such time that it is considered right and appropriate,” West Ham said in a statement.
“However, as his current contract is also due to expire on 30 June, for the purposes of the Premier League Retained List procedure at the end of the 2024/25 season, Michail will be listed as a free transfer.
“As a long-serving, highly-respected player, and a much-loved member of the West Ham family, the Club’s absolute priority at this time is to support Michail personally in his journey to resume playing at the highest level.”
Photo by Serena Taylor/Newcastle United via Getty Images
Photo by Serena Taylor/Newcastle United via Getty Images
Graham Potter has already showed a ruthless streak in his stated aim of lowering the age of West Ham’s squad – which was the oldest in the Premier League last season.
Potter released long-serving trio Aaron Cresswell, Lukasz Fabianski and Vladimir Coufal despite many believing they would be handed contract extensions.
West Ham have made it clear signing new strikers and overhauling the midfield is a top priority.
A host of forwards have been linked with moves to the London Stadium from Evann Guessand and Emanuel Emegha to Mathias Kvistgaarden and Moise Kean.
West Ham now eye £12m deal for Antonio regen
The problem is West Ham cannot afford to go really big on any deals with money limited to what they bring in from sales.
Potter must also somehow solve a problem that has clearly needed to be addressed for some time – replacing Antonio’s pace and power up front.
Now West Ham are eyeing a £12m deal for an Antonio regen who just destroyed Edson Alvarez’s Mexico.
What better way to replace Antonio than signing a player just like him?
Hammers News has previously revealed West Ham’s new head of recruitment Kyle Macaulay is working to target players in the last two years of their contracts.
The Irons hope that will enable them to get some more affordable signings in the door this summer.
Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images
Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images
The latest in that category is Breel Embolo.
After Macaulay and Potter’s arrival In January, Give Me Sport claimed longstanding Hammers target Embolo was back on the club’s radar.
It was reported that West Ham saw him as the ideal replacement for Antonio.
Embolo is entering the last year of his contract at Monaco.
And his place has been under threat from the likes of Mika Biereth, Folarin Balogun and George Ilenikhena.
Embolo is a powerful, pacy and versatile forward who, at 28, has plenty of experience too.
He may not be the young striker many fans had hoped for. But if West Ham are looking to sign at least two proven forwards, Embolo would be an excellent second striker.
The former Borussia Monchengladbach star can play off the left and right forward positions as well as down the middle.
Hammers in for Embolo after he destroyed Alvarez’s Mexico
He can even drop into attacking midfield.
Embolo is better on the ball than Antonio and just as physically robust.
With his contract going into the last 12 months, Monaco want to get some money back for a player who made just 19 Ligue 1 starts last season.
Embolo did add 10 appearances for Monaco in the Champions League, though.
Overall he managed seven goals and seven assists.
French outlet Team Football claim Monaco want to sell Embolo for £12m as talks over a new deal have not progressed.
The report states West Ham are battling with Besiktas to sign Embolo.
But it also claims the move is currently ‘hampered by their budget’ – which is accurate as Potter can’t buy until West Ham push through a sale or two.
This may well be one to keep a close eye on, though, if Besiktas and ‘interest from Germany’ doesn’t scupper the plan to find an Antonio successor.
Potter would have been impressed if he was keeping an eye on Embolo in Switzerland’s match against Alvarez’s Mexico.
Goal USA report that Mexico’s defence was ‘torn apart’ by Embolo as he scored and caused all manner of problems in a 4-2 win over Alvarez’s side.