Jonty Banks

Sat 28 January 2023 7:10, UK

If David Moyes didn’t find himself in the middle of an injury crisis at West Ham United this January, Michail Antonio’s time at the London Stadium would certainly have been brought to a close.

The Hammers forward has been subject to some frenzied transfer rumours this month after falling beneath Gianluca Scamacca in Moyes’ pecking order but topped this off with some outlandish comments recently. [talkSPORT, 16 January]

Speaking on The Footballer’s Football Podcast on Thursday (26 January), Antonio stated that “nothing had been ruled out” regarding his future and that he was willing to speak to other clubs about a transfer away from West Ham.

For a player of Antonio’s grandeur and popularity, the public revelation left a bitter taste in the mouth of Hammers fans, and surely he will now be put on the chopping block in the summer transfer window.

His time at the club would certainly have been brought to a close this month if it wasn’t for the recent injuries picked up by Gianluca Scamacca and January recruit Danny Ings, which has left the 32-year-old as the only fit centre-forward in the first-team.

Jarrod Bowen can play as a striker on his day, but if Moyes were to sell the Jamaican international, he would leave himself extremely short-staffed in attack considering their precarious positioning in the Premier League table.

As it is, Moyes admitted in a press conference on Friday afternoon that he had “no intention” of selling the striker this January, and believes Antonio can still play an important role in the Hammer’s fight against relegation.

Despite the Scot nailing his colours to Antonio’s cause, you can’t help but feel this public cry for a transfer may have ruined the relationship between the pair.

After racking up 214 appearances for the club, it is a shame the situation has ended up like this.

But with Antonio no longer offering the explosive pace and power he once could, a summer exit is surely on the cards if West Ham receives an appropriate offer.