Michail Antonio backed to complete ‘£9m’ West Ham move – pundit
West Ham star Michail Antonio won’t turn down a move to Saudi Arabia.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, former Tottenham and Aston Villa defender Alan Hutton suggested Antonio would snub any other club for a “£8/£9million-a-year” move to Saudi.
The 33-year-old has entered the final year of his contract at the London Stadium.
On 22 July, Football Insider revealed that the striker is keen to quit the Hammers in favour of Steven Gerrard’s Saudi Pro League side Al Ettifaq.
David Moyes will not stand in Antonio’s way if he wants to make the Saudi switch and Gerrard’s team have reportedly had encouragement from the club at the striker will be available.
Football Insider has learned that an outlay of £10m could be enough for Al Ettifaq to secure his signature.
When asked if the Saudi option has emerged at the right time in Antonio’s career, Hutton told Football Insider: “Only he will know.
“He will know exactly what offers he has on the table. He has done well at West Ham.
“I can’t get it out my head about the money thing, it is the main driving force behind it. People might say it is not but it genuinely is.
“If he has not got many options and a Saudi team comes in for him and is offering £8/£9m a year versus another team offering him a fraction of that. It is very hard for anybody to turn that down and you can see that.“
In other news, West Ham in talks to sign new Declan Rice replacement after Dortmund negotiations collapse.