Report: Antonio wants to spend rest of his career at West Ham
Michail Antonio wants to spend the rest of his career at West Ham, according to The Athletic.
The 30-year-old forward has arguably been West Ham’s best player in 2020 but he’s unfortunately set to miss the trip to Liverpool on Saturday due to an injury he picked up in the 1-1 draw with Manchester City last week.
The former Sheffield Wednesday player’s £70,000-a-week contract at the London Stadium is set to expire at the end of this season but The Athletic reports that West Ham have the option to extend it by a further 12 months.
But that doesn’t sound as though it will cut it for Antonio as Athletic journalist Roshane Thomas claims that the forward wants a new four-year contract.
It is understood that talks are likely to take place in either December or January because Antonio would prefer a new long-term deal rather than simply having his existing terms extended by a year.
Based on the way Antonio has played for West Ham this year, there’s no way that the club can say no.
Antonio has played as a right-back, right-winger and centre-forward for the Hammers with his best performances this year coming when he’s played up-front.
Since the football resumed in June after it was suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic, Antonio has scored 11 goals in 15 Premier League appearances.
Who can forget his four-goal haul away at Norwich or his goal and last-minute match-winning assist to earn a 3-2 win over Chelsea?
Even this season, Antonio has stepped up with some big goals and his strike against Man City last week will be on the minds of supporters for a very long time.
Antonio will turn 31 before the current season finishes but the way he’s continued to improve over the years at West Ham suggests that a new four-year deal is not only a good thing for the player but also the club.
In other West Ham news, Hammers youngster Tunji Akinola has been in impressive form while on loan at Leyton Orient.