Michail Antonio has stated ‘if something happens, then it happens’, as the West Ham United striker reacted to transfer rumours linking him away from the club this month.
The 32-year-old, who is on the transfer radar of Frank Lampard’s Everton and a shock target for Graham Potter’s Chelsea, did point towards his lack of game time this season.
Following the arrival of Gianluca Scamacca in the summer, who is also struggling under David Moyes, Antonio’s game time has been reduced to eight Premier League starts, which have equalled just two goals.
In previous years, Antonio has been a regular starter for the Hammers and an important reason why they survived relegation and then secured back-to-back European finishes.
But it’s all starting to go downhill now, especially with suggestions that the London club are in advanced talks with Aston Villa to sign Danny Ings.
Antonio has already spoken about West Ham wanting to sign Sevilla star Youssef En-Nesyri, and he has already added about his own future, as he told the Footballer’s Football Podcast.
“There are always rumours in football,” said Antonio. “People have seen that I haven’t been playing much and they have seen that West Ham are struggling.
“It’s one of those. I pay attention to myself and whenever I get an opportunity, I play and concentrate on myself. My agent tells me all of that, if something happens, then something happens.
“Right now, I am at West Ham up until something happens, if it changes, then it changes.”
ANTONIO EDGING CLOSER TO EXIT
The issue for Antonio is that he is already a back-up option at West Ham, and that’s for a team battling relegation.
Nevermind bringing in one striker, it seems as though two will arrive. Even that one new face will probably result in him leaving before the window slams shut.
The Chelsea links are probably just throwaway speculation, but the rumours regarding Everton do make sense given their own struggles and how they are also desperate for added quality.
What will be interesting here is that will West Ham be happy for Antonio to leave for Goodison Park, especially ahead of their meeting at the weekend and given that they are both sitting in the drop zone?!
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