Michail Antonio could lose central striker role if Odsonne Edouard signs
Michail Antonio could lose his role as the number one striker if West Ham sign Celtic’s Odsonne Edouard this summer.
AS Roma Live, an Italian website with over 50,000 Facebook followers, reports the Irons’ interest, suggesting Celtic have set an asking price of €20million [£17.3million] for his services.
And with only a year left on his contract, the Bhoys could be willing to sell.
It is possible that the only thing that stands in our way is the interest from Arsenal and Leicester [The Telegraph].
However, we are in more desperate need of a striker than those two clubs and that could lead us to be the highest bidders – Edouard would also be guaranteed starts in East London, Arsenal and Leicester cannot offer that.
And that is where Antonio comes in.
The forward has been brilliant at leading the line singlehandedly this season and his absence was keenly felt in the defeat to Newcastle.
Unfortunately, his troublesome hamstrings mean he cannot be relied upon for an entire season, and a new lead striker is needed.
Edouard is a brilliant option; his 81 goals in 164 games for Celtic mean he has become a talisman for the Glasgow club.
Former Hammers striker Frank McAvennie gave him a ringing endorsement, too, suggesting the Frenchman is a striker who “likes the spectacular” [The Scotsman].
Edouard’s goalscoring record shows he is a natural goalscorer, something Antonio is not, and he would surely flourish from the service of Jarrod Bowen, Pablo Fornals and possibly Jesse Lingard.
If he does sign David Moyes may have the tricky decision to drop Antonio from the starting line-up.
The 31-year-old could be an ideal impact sub, roughing up defenders when brought on to unsettle backlines when in need of a goal, or to hold the ball up when defending a lead.
Alternatively, he could switch back to the wing, where 84 of his 176 West Ham appearances have come.
A striker will surely be signed this year, and whether or not it is Edouard, we may see a different Antonio next year.
In other West Ham news, Irons currently lead a transfer hunt for a different “Hurricane” striker.