Carlton Cole dismisses Michail Antonio West Ham United exit rumours live on talkSPORT amid Saudi links
Carlton Cole has dismissed the rumours regarding Michail Antonio potentially leaving West Ham United this summer.
The Hammers are open to selling the 33-year-old to Saudi Arabian club Al-Ettifaq, according to Sky Sports (20 July).
Antonio joined the East London club from Nottingham Forest in 2015 and has made almost 300 appearances in claret and blue.
“No matter the rumours about him leaving and everything, he’ll be a West Ham player for the foreseeable future, and we’ll try get him scoring goals,” Cole said live on talkSPORT.
Uncertain future
It really is unclear where Antonio will be playing his football next season, but there is every chance that Hammers boss David Moyes will probably currently be doing all he can to ensure he stays with the club.
The East London outfit have the likes of Danny Ings and Gianluca Scamacca among their ranks, but out of the three, it seems that Antonio is the preferred starter.
The other two haven’t hit the heights expected of them in their time in claret and blue so far, and while Antonio may not be the most exciting striker in the Premier League, he is reliable and works hard for the team.
Youngster Divin Mubama is also an option for Moyes going forward, but the teenager lacks the experience and Premier League know-how that Antonio can bring to proceedings next season.
The Jamaican international is, however, 33, and may not be viewed by Moyes as the striker capable of banging in the goals in all competitions.
In other West Ham news, a transfer development has emerged as one Hammers player is “increasingly likely” to make a switch to another Premier League club.