West Ham United transfer news: ‘Extraordinary’ Michail Antonio update emerges amid mooted exit to Saudi Arabia
Michail Antonio appears not to be headed for a West Ham exit to Saudi Arabia because Al-Ettifaq don’t want to pay for him, according to Claret & Hugh.
The 33-year-old forward has been linked with a departure from the London Stadium throughout the past year, and after Steven Gerrard took over at the Saudi Pro League club Sky Sports reported talks had begun over a deal (20 July).
However, there has apparently been a “big twist” in that despite huge money being spent by Saudi clubs, including ones not controlled by the PIF, Al-Ettifaq reportedly aren’t interested in paying a transfer fee for Jamaica international Antonio despite personal terms thought to have been discussed.
The latest update on Sunday (23 July) said: “Although [Antonio] has apparently discussed personal terms with Al Ettifaq we understand that the Saudi club is disinterested in paying a fee for him.
“That’s an extraordinary situation given the player currently has a year left on his deal plus an option for another year and there is no chance of the club letting him leave on a free two years ahead of his contract expiring.”
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West Ham would have to be extremely charitable to sanction his exit for free, and with so much work needing to be done this summer it seems highly unlikely they would do so.
Time is running out on incoming business, and although the start of the £105million fee for selling Declan Rice has come in it clearly hasn’t made West Ham capable of splashing cash with abandon.
With Gianluca Scamacca and Danny Ings potentially not at the club next season either, any that leave will need to be replaced.
So much like the Irons’ flat refusal to contemplate a loan back to Serie A with Roma for the Italian it would make little sense for Antonio to be allowed to exit for nothing to the Middle East.
Al-Ettafaq might not have the huge sums behind them that the four PIF controlled clubs do, but they’ve obviously got enough to tempt Gerrard and Jordan Henderson to up sticks and make the move, so they can surely afford to buy Antonio.
At 33 he won’t command a huge fee, but with two years of contract left from a Hammers point of view and coming off a 14-goal season in all competitions an interested club clearly has to make it worth West Ham’s while.
In other West Ham news, a key target is now “likely” to leave after Irons bids were rejected but a new suitor appears to have suddenly taken prominence.