Exclusive: McAvennie thrilled with new Antonio contract, insists West Ham need another striker
We’re delighted to welcome former West Ham United striker Frank McAvennie as our exclusive columnist. Each week he’ll be giving his views on the biggest talking points at the London Stadium…
Frank McAvennie is delighted that Michail Antonio has agreed a new contract at West Ham but insists his former club must add more depth to their striker options.
Antonio, 30, put pen to paper on a new deal lasting until 2023 last week but has featured in just one of the Hammers’ last eight Premier League matches.
Sebastien Haller is the club’s only other natural striker in the senior squad but the Ivory Coast international has failed to impress on a consistent basis.
McAvennie is happy with the update on Antonio but is adamant the Irons need another centre-forward adding to their squad and claims Bournemouth’s Joshua King would be perfect for David Moyes.
“It’s great news for the club,” McAvennie told West Ham Zone when asked about Antonio’s new deal.
“He’s a midfielder-turned-striker and has done a great job but you need somebody else and Josh King is the guy for me.
“I thought [Ollie] Watkins would have been great for West Ham. King would have been great. [Callum] Wilson too – he’s scoring for fun at Newcastle in a bad team. He could have scored a lot of goals at West Ham.
“I think King is more a player David Moyes would want to sign.”
Last month, West Ham news website Claret & Hugh reported that King, 28, is a target for the Irons going into the January transfer window.
The Norway international was strongly linked with West Ham in the last window but a move failed to materialise and he’s played just six times in the Championship for the Cherries this season.
Although King is struggling for game-time in the second-tier with just three starts this term, there’s no denying that he’s a proven Premier League goal-getter.
King netted 48 goals and supplied 15 assists in 161 top-tier appearances for Bournemouth [transfermarkt]. He managed to grab 16 of those goals in the 2016/17 season while he also hit double-digits in 2018/19.
King’s been prolific in the past for Bournemouth but hasn’t played a lot of football this season.
It could take him a while to get back up to speed if he comes to the London Stadium in January.
In other West Ham news, Moyes has been raving about this Hammers duo.