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West Ham United transfer news as Michail Antonio still on Wolves radar
West Ham star Michail Antonio is still on the radar of Wolves after impressing Julen Lopetegui, according to the Daily Mail.
Antonio, 32, has made 29 appearances for the Hammers this season, scoring six goals in all competitions and caught the eye of the midlands club in January.
As per the Daily Mail (16 February), Lopetegui was “hugely impressed” with both Craig Dawson and Antonio when his Sevilla side played the Hammers in the Europa League last season.
Wolves signed Dawson in January and the report details that Antonio is “still on Wolves’ radar” ahead of the summer transfer window.
Lopetegui’s side, who began the season under the management of Bruno Lage, have scored the joint-lowest number of goals in the Premier League this season with just 17 successful efforts on goal to the club’s name.
Wolves have struggled across the board but have improved at the back following the arrival of former Hammer Dawson. They sit 15th in the league ahead of this weekend’s game against Bournemouth (18 February).
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Open goal for West Ham
Antonio’s best days are long behind him and that is something West Ham fans have known for a while now.
He has only scored six goals in all competitions this season, not bagging in the Premier League since 9 October, a 3-1 win over Fulham.
Antonio has had his uses this season especially against poor sides in the domestic cups and in the early stages of the Europa Conference League.
He scored against Derby, Viborg, and FCSB, important games against poor-quality sides. It is worth mentioning that Antonio’s competition, Gianluca Scamacca, has also failed to set the world alight this season.
But he is clearly the future. Antonio is 32 and his former great asset, his pace, has long deserted him. If there is a club willing to pay significant money to sign him then it’s an easy decision for the board to make.
He is under contract until the summer of 2024 so a move in the summer makes sense. It will be the last chance the club has to recoup a decent amount of the money paid to Nottingham Forest back in 2015.
An upgrade is needed in the striking department and it seems Wolves are giving West Ham an easy exit strategy for Antonio.