Michail Antonio to leave the London Stadium - Three players who could quit West Ham United this summer
West Ham United’s Premier League status is by no means a certainty at present and relegation to the Championship could see a player exodus at the London Stadium.
It’s been a stop-start season for David Moyes’ side who have dramatically underperformed after an ambitious 2022 summer transfer window.
The Hammers do have games in hand and even if they do survive, we still anticipate some high-profile exits during the summer. Here West Ham Zone takes a look at three players who could depart at the end of the season.
Michail Antonio
Michail Antonio will always be a West Ham legend, but there is a growing sense that the 32-year-old’s time at the London Stadium is coming to an end.
The Sun’s Alan Nixon has claimed (Patreon, 19 March), that a move to Everton could see the Jamaican earn one last payday before his career comes to a close. Regardless of West Ham’s league status, there’s a strong chance the striker does depart in the summer. Antonio is reportedly earning £85,000-a-week (ExWHUemployee, 7 January 2022) and if he does leave, a significant portion of Moyes’ wage structure will be available.
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Declan Rice
It’s now looking inevitable that Declan Rice departs the London Stadium at the end of the season; his latest performance for the Three Lions against Italy is yet further evidence. Sky Sports journalist Florian Plettenberg reported (16 March), that the 24-year-old is still a top midfield candidate for Chelsea as Todd Boehly looks to continue his transformation at Stamford Bridge.
Most West Ham fans have now accepted the club will cash in on Rice this summer. He simply has to be playing at the highest level.
Gianluca Scamacca
Gianluca Scamacca’s move to West Ham hasn’t quite worked out. Although an exit is unlikely, there’s been rumours of Italian interest in the 24-year-old. Calciomercato suggest (22 March) Juventus are interested in Scamacca, and a return to his home country cannot be ruled out.
The latter stages of the season and the start of the 2023/24 campaign are absolutely huge for the misfiring Italian.