West Ham news round-up: Michail Antonio return date, England ace wanted
West Ham United return to Premier League action on Thursday with a home match against strugglers Leicester City.
Graham Potter will be looking to build on last week’s surprise win at Arsenal after a previously slow start to his tenure.
Before focus turns to that game, though, there has been plenty happening off the field on Wednesday (26 February).
West Ham Zone rounds up all the day’s big stories in one place.
West Ham valuation emerges as Tony Cottee makes £1billion claim
West Ham United have been told their realistic valuation after recent suggestions that £1billion would be needed from investors.
Tony Cottee recently suggested it would take £1billion from investors to turn things around at the London Stadium.
However, speaking exclusively to West Ham Zone, finance expert Dan Plumley said: “I think if you look at the valuation first, the finances have been in generally good shape for the last couple of years. So on a valuation, you’ve got to put them in the Newcastle, Everton ballpark: £350m, top end maybe £400m. But for a full purchase of the club, they’re in that kind of ballpark for sure.
“Now, if you take that figure of £1bn, that means we’re suggesting £500m to £600m over the top to do whatever. You need to see the details of what that looks like in terms of what he means by that. Probably some of that is money in the transfer market for players. That’s what they’ll be looking at, to strengthen the squad.
“So I think the valuation is probably somewhere between £350m to £400m. And over the top, if you say you need another £500 to £600 million, that’s an awful lot of money, and, ultimately, that doesn’t guarantee you the top six, for example.“
West Ham transfer update emerges already after £32m development
A London Stadium spokesman has revealed that the Hammers’ finances will be minimal next summer after committing to Todibo’s transfer for £32million.
Speaking to Hammers News, the spokesman said: “Money for transfers will be minimal as £32m is already committed to Todibo, who finally started to show how good he is on Saturday.
“We agree new strikers will be needed, and they don’t come cheap. We’ll need to juggle things and be creative to fund deals.”
West Ham staff amazed as ‘new Michail Antonio return date set’
Michail Antonio has left West Ham United staff members “amazed” as a new return date has been set for the fan favourite.
According to Sean Whetstone via his West Ham Football account on X [26 February], Antonio is “getting stronger each day”.
The report adds that those who have seen him train in the gym are “amazed at the progress” Antonio has made, with his return currently pencilled in for the final fortnight of the season.
| Player | West Ham goals (Premier League) |
| Michail Antonio | 68 |
| Jarrod Bowen | 50 |
| Paulo Di Canio | 47 |
| Mark Noble | 47 |
| Carlton Cole | 41 |
West Ham alerted after ‘behind-the-scenes Harwood-Bellis development’
Once-capped England defender Taylor Harwood-Bellis looks highly likely to leave Southampton, according to talkSPORT, and West Ham have been alerted to a behind-the-scenes development.
Harwood-Bellis recently signed a deal to be represented by Unique Sports Group, an agency whom both West Ham and London rivals Crystal Palace have a “close working relationship” with.
That is said to indicate that a move to the London Stadium is a possibility for the defender ahead of the 2025-26 season.