Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain joined Liverpool for a whopping £35million this summer, so what is West Ham United’s Michail Antonio worth.
Signed for a bargain £7.5million from Nottingham Forest, Antonio has gone on to become West Ham’s most important player.
But don’t take my word for it.
Andy Carroll, a player who could comfortably lay claim to that title when fit, was adamant Antonio was the Hammers’ star man even when Dimitri Payet was around.
“We’ve got other top players,” Carroll told Jamie Redknapp for the Daily Mail.
“(Michail) Antonio has been great. He’s scored the goals, played all over the pitch.
“He’s been our main player. It’s mad. Right back to centre forward, quality, power, strength — ridiculous. Ridiculous! A beast!”
It speaks volumes that despite injury ruling him out of the final few months of last season Antonio was still named the club’s Hammer of the Year.
England have recognised his talents while West Ham fans know they always have a chance if he is on the team sheet with his power, pace, energy, attitude, enthusiasm, goals and assists crucial to Bilic’s side.
Antonio has 18 goals in two years at West Ham and as many assists, despite spending long spells playing as a makeshift right back.
That’s the same number Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain managed in eight years at Southampton and Arsenal, where he failed to ever really establish himself as a first team regular.
His move from Arsenal to Anfield for a fee which could rise to £40million despite being in the last year of his contract went somewhat under the radar in light of some earth shattering transfers over the summer.
But it begs the question just how much is Antonio worth if that is the benchmark, £70-80million wouldn’t look overly expensive in the modern market.
Not that West Ham would want to sell, after all the club has recently handed him a much-improved new contract to reflect his increasing worth.
Not bad for a player who started his career in the humble surroundings of non-league Tooting and Mitcham.
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