`West Ham United winger Michail Antonio has been one of the league’s most consistent performers this season.
West Ham United’s Michail Antonio in action
West Ham winger Michail Antonio continues to impress for the Hammers, and is arguably the only player who deserves any kind of credit for how he has performed so far this season.
He has power and pace in abundance, and always puts in 100 per cent effort, no matter what the score.
The 26-year-old ex-Nottingham Forest star seems to have gone under the scouting radar of the Premier League’s top sides – possibly because of his non-league past, but his performances over the past year have surely alerted him to some of Europe’s most elite clubs.
The Hammers will do very well to keep hold of Antonio if he continues to perform in the manner in which he has been of late.
Here we take a look at three of the Premier League’s title-chasing clubs who should test West Ham’s resolve in the summer, and move for Antonio.
Arsenal:
Antonio would be the perfect acquisition for the Gunners.
His direct nature, and powerful physique would provide Arsene Wenger’s men with something that they currently do not possess.
Despite his impressive form this season, Theo Walcott is still a one-trick pony, and Antonio would offer so much more down that right side, not just in an attacking sense, but from a defensive perspective as well.
Manchester United:
Antonio’s work-rate and boundless energy is everything that Jose Mourinho loves in a player.
The Portuguese has always been insistent on his attacking players tracking back and helping out defensively – something that comes naturally to the West Ham man.
When Antonio Valencia is missing from the United side, they are a team totally bereft of any attacking drive from wide areas, and Antonio would be just the man to solve that problem.
West Ham United’s Michail Antonio in action
Liverpool:
The Reds have very good options in attacking wide areas, but their strength in depth is questionable.
Sadio Mane and Philippe Coutinho have been in sensational form so far this season, but what happens when one of those two are absent?
Mane is set to miss at least a month in January through his participation at the African Cup of Nations, and that period will be a real test for Liverpool.
The signing of Antonio would increase competition in the wide right side of their front-line, and provide Jürgen Klopp with an entirely different option, should he need to change his approach to a particular game.
While the future of Dimitri Payet is the one that concerns most Hammers fans, they should remember how important Antonio has been to their side, and hope that the West Ham hierarchy have a plan in place to extend his current deal.
Because if they don’t, it will only be a matter of time before one of the game’s giants takes notice and makes a move for the the 26-year-old winger.
West Ham United’s Michail Antonio celebrates
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