Speaking on the Footballer’s Football Podcast, Michail Antonio has shared just how close he came to leaving the London Stadium last month.
Antonio was linked with a number of clubs throughout the January transfer window, including Everton and Wolves, but, ultimately, he ended up staying at the club.
According to Antonio, a couple of bids did come in for him, but West Ham decided that they didn’t want to let the striker go at this juncture.
Antonio had offers
The Jamaican international spoke about the offers he received towards the end of January.
“Basically a couple of bids came in. I won’t say which clubs they were, but the club said they don’t want to let me go right now and I said that’s no problem. I will stay and fight for my place here and help the club get out of the relegation battle. There was nothing big to report. The club decided they didn’t want to sell me and wanted me to stay and I have,” Antonio said.
Would West Ham have sold?
West Ham clearly didn’t want to lose Antonio towards the end of the transfer window, but we have to wonder whether or not their stance would’ve been different if Danny Ings hadn’t picked up an injury.
Ings was signed in January, seemingly as Antonio’s replacement as rumours began to circulate about the striker’s potential departure, but almost as soon as he signed, Ings was injured.
Therefore, West Ham may not have wanted to sell Antonio.
Don’t be too shocked if the striker does end up leaving the Hammers this summer.
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