West Ham told not to pay Michail Antonio if he can’t play – ‘Life is tough’
West Ham might still hand Michail Antonio a contract extension once the striker returns from his horrific injury, Simon Jordan believes.
The 34-year-old has not featured for the Hammers since early December after being involved in a near-fatal car accident, one which he has since been recovering from on the sidelines.
Graham Potter has seriously missed a striker figure since being appointed as Julen Lopetegui’s successor, with Niclas Fullkrug’s signing for West Ham clearly not working out.
While supporters are eager for their leading Premier League scorer to return to the pitch, Antonio’s current deal is set to expire at the end of the 2024/25 campaign, and he is nowhere near returning to the pitch yet.
There are doubts being raised over whether the Jamaica international will be able to play football at a professional level again, but if he manages to, Jordan believes a pay-as-you-play deal could work.
Michail Antonio to return to West Ham with new contract mooted
Speaking live via talkSPORT [18 March, 12:32pm], Jordan said: “If you do a pay-and-play deal, he can back himself. Give him what his weekly wage was if he plays, and if you play, it means you’re at the level you were before.
Jim White asked: “So he would only get paid if he plays?” to which Jordan replied: “Why wouldn’t you? Why would you give him money if he can’t play? What would be the purpose?
“Life is tough. He’s been there for a decade but he’s been paid for it. He’s not a servant of the club – he’s been paid for it.”
| Player | Games | Goals | Assists | Trophies |
| Michail Antonio | 323 | 83 | 40 | 1 |
David Sullivan must reward West Ham’s most loyal player in moment of darkness
Football Insider verdict
Antonio, who returned to the West Ham pitch as a fan at half-time during the clash against Newcastle, has made a name for himself at the London Stadium, boasting over 300 appearances since 2015.
The Hammers have struggled for striker figures over the years, with the last centre-forward to hit 20-plus goals in a single league season being Marlon Harewood in 2004/05.
While Jarrod Bowen has been an incredible servant for Irons, he can only carry the pressure of the team on his back for so long, with Mohammed Kudus and Lucas Paqueta struggling for form.
Paqueta is also at risk of being handed a lifetime ban at West Ham due to betting allegations against him, which would leave Potter without another one of his important stars ahead of next season.
Antonio is certainly not a long-term fix for the Hammers but if he were able to return to the pitch, his experience and knowledge would be incredibly important as the club moves into a new era.