Revealed: Michail Antonio keen to finalise £10m West Ham move
Michail Antonio is keen to quit West Ham for Steven Gerrard’s Saudi Pro League outfit Al Ettifaq this summer, sources have told Football Insider.
Football Insider revealed on Friday (21 July) that Al Ettifaq have had encouragement from West Ham that the Jamaica international, 33, will be available this summer.
It is believed the Irons will not stand in the way of what would be a lucrative move for Antonio in the twilight years of his career.
The striker is in the final year of his contract at the London Stadium, which is worth a reported £85,000-a-week.
It is believed it won’t take a massive fee to prise Antonio away from West Ham this summer.
A well-placed source has told Football Insider an outlay of £10million could be enough for Al Ettifaq to secure the hitman’s signature.
That would be a similar fee to the one set to be paid for Liverpool’s Jordan Henderson when he completes his lucrative move to Steven Gerrard’s side.
Antonio managed 14 goals across 48 games in all competitions last term.
Those strikes proved important as fellow strikers Danny Ings and Gianluca Scamacca struggled for form.
His most crucial contributions came in the Europa Conference League as West Ham famously lifted the trophy with the help of six goals from Antonio.
The former Nottingham Forest star has managed 61 Premier League goals since joining the club in 2015, making him the leading top-flight scorer for the Irons since 1992.
Football Insider revealed on Friday (21 July) that West Ham are in the market for a prolific striker this summer as they prepare to allow Antonio to leave the club.
However, reinforcements in central midfield and at centre-back are the current priority following Declan Rice’s departure.
In other news, 24-year-old rejects West Ham part-exchange plan.