By Joe Roberts

19th Sep, 2023 | 4:33pm

West Ham United: Richard Keys reacts as Michail Antonio shares big-money transfer claim

Richard Keys has questioned Michail Antonio’s assessment of Mohamed Salah’s proposed move to Saudi Arabia, with the West Ham striker claiming he “didn’t turn that [offer] down”.

Taking to X (19 September), Keys posted an article from The Mirror (19 September) which reported Antonio’s view that “for a fact” the Liverpool forward wanted to make the world-record-breaking move to Al-Ittihad this summer, but the Reds blocked it.

Keys, seemingly unimpressed with Antonio’s assessment of the situation, had previously claimed Salah’s deal to the Suadi Pro League “will get done”, as quoted by The Mirror (8 September).

Speculation

From all parties, it seems that their views on Salah’s proposed £215million move to the Middle East are all pure speculation.

Unless Antonio has inside sources or knows of people close to the situation, he can’t claim for a “fact” that Salah wanted to leave Liverpool, while whoever was informing Keys clearly had ill-advised sources.

Keys has to negotiate yet another failed prediction, having claimed that the Egyptian’s Premier League clash against Aston Villa would be his last for Jurgen Klopp’s side.

No one can be sure of Salah’s thoughts on the move except himself and the people close to him, but until January at least he will be trying to get the Reds back to the top of the table.

With two goals and four assists already this season, he is proving that the Liverpool hierarchy was shrewd to keep him – despite the record-breaking fee offered.

Keys is not famous for his accurate takes, and got his Salah prediction wrong, so perhaps should think twice before seemingly bashing Antonio’s verdict.

In other West Ham news, the Hammers have made a free-agent transfer decision as Jesse Lingard remains in training.