Michail Antonio has told close friend Adebayo Akinfenwa that he could leave West Ham United before the January deadline with Premier League rivals Nottingham Forest and Everton targeting a late swoop, speaking to talkSPORT (29 January, 8.30pm).
Despite an injury suffered on debut by new £12 million Hammers signing Danny Ings, Antonio’s future is still very much up in the air heading into the final few days of the window.
According to the Mirror (29 January, page 78), Everton are keen; The Toffees have money to play with following Anthony Gordon’s big-money move to Newcastle United. Nottingham Forest and Wolverhampton Wanderers are also in the mix.
Taiwo Awoniyi is out of action for the forseable future, and Antonio would give Steve Cooper another mobile, physical option through the middle. Wolves, meanwhile, have scored the fewest goals of any Premier League team this season (12).
And, according to Akinfenwa, there is a very real chance that Monday’s FA Cup fourth round clash with third-tier Derby County could be Antonio’s farewell in claret-and-blue.
Nottingham Forest, Everton and Wolves like West Ham striker Michail Antonio
“I have spoken to him. It is a possibility that he could be leaving West Ham,” says the former EFL stalwart.
“He didn’t tell me where (he was going)! But he said it’s a real possibility that he could be leaving in this January transfer window. Which is a shame because he’s been a mainstay at West Ham.
“But they bought in Ings, and it maybe it’s time for him to move elsewhere.”
Ings joined Gianluca Scamacca at the London Stadium when he arrived from Aston Villa. West Ham are also hoping to bring in another centre-forward early this week; Lorient’s £30 million-rated Nigeria international Terem Moffi a leading target (talkSPORT).
As such, Antonio, if he was to stay, would risk becoming David Moyes’ fourth-choice centre-forward. The 32-year-old has already come off the bench more times than he’s started in 2022/23.
“Honestly, I’ve not ruled anything out. That’s all I can say,” Antonio, who had a previous spell at Forest in 2014/15, tells the Footballer’s Football Podcast.
“Nothing has been ruled out. There are talks, so whatever happens, happens.”
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