‘It wouldn’t be a good move’: Kieron Dyer reacts to West Ham United transfer rumour

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Kieron Dyer has warned West Ham United ‘it wouldn’t be a good move’ if they allow Michail Antonio to secure a transfer to Wolves in January.

The former England winger added that Antonio ‘isn’t as prolific as Harry Kane’, but David Moyes needs his goals at the London Stadium, as rumours emerge that Julen Lopetegui’s Wolves want to take him on board.

Whilst Antonio has been a regular in recent years, this season, his game time has reduced following the summer arrival of Gianluca Scamacca and because of his own poor form.

The 32-year-old only has two Premier League goals this season and he last scored in the league back in October when the Hammers beat London rivals, Fulham.

Last season, Antonio hit ten league goals and supplied eight assists for the team, as he went through a number of poor patches of form.

Given that Antonio can hit the bracket of the 8-12 mark, Dyer thinks he needs to stay put in East London, despite those Wolves links, as he told talkSPORT Breakfast on Wednesday morning (11/01/23).

“I think it wouldn’t be a good move for West Ham,” said Dyer. “If you look at West Ham, we talked about Steve Bruce and Rafa Benitez. David Moyes is a pragmatic manager. Defend first, then attack second.

“I think they have only scored 15 league goals this season. Everyone talks about Everton needing goals in their team, yet West Ham have only scored one more than them.

“Last season, Antonio probably scored double figures. Bowen was on fire. You could always count on Soucek to get you some goals.

“West Ham need goals. He has proven at the Premier League level that he guarantees you goals, of course, he’s not prolific like Harry Kane or the top, top strikers. But he gets you that range of 8-12 goals a season. I think with West Ham, with the signing of Scamacca, then it takes these players time to adjust, so I would definitely keep Michail Antonio around. Maybe you explore that avenue next season. ”

WEST HAM CAN’T ALLOW ANTONIO TO LEAVE

The issue here is that West Ham find themselves in a difficult spot after a number of seasons of pushing and securing European football.

They are hovering above the Premier League’s relegation zone on goal difference only and they are one point ahead of 19th-placed Wolves.

The last thing West Ham want to do is allow one of their senior players to join a relegation rival, who will get a boost and an edge with this possible Antonio transfer.