Turkish powerhouse Galatasaray is investigating the potential transfer of Michail Antonio, which may make it difficult for West Ham United to hang onto him this summer. The Daily Mail reports that Galatasaray has apparently begun to consider relocating Antonio. Cimbom is aware that the 33-year-old’s contract at London Stadium only has one year remaining.
But West Ham has the option to extend his deal through June 2025. Galatasaray, though, thinks they may be able to sever the forward’s eight-year association with West Ham due to the contractual conditions. The Hammers paid £7 million to Nottingham Forest in September 2015 to get the attacker, who was born in London. Later, he obtained Jamaican citizenship.
Antonio has appeared 276 times for West Ham since his arrival in 2015, earning the praise of Gary Neville who dubbed him “absolutely brilliant.” In addition, he has given the east London team 75 goals and 43 assists overall. During 2022–2023, Antonio contributed 14 goals and five assists. In order to keep Antonio as the first-choice, Irons manager David Moyes deployed him 48 times in 22/23.
Gianluca Scamacca momentarily replaced Antonio as the top striker. The £30.5 million, then increasing to £35.5 million, Italian would thereafter sustain a series of wounds. The Hammers acquired Danny Ings from Aston Villa in January for £12 million plus $3 million in add-ons. Galatasaray might potentially use Antonio to pursue the transfer of a crucial West Ham player.
Galatasaray Is Aiming For Antonio
Additionally, Antonio may make West Ham’s possible battle to keep the Galatasaray target in the summer transfer window much more difficult. The attacker might yet seek for a transfer away from London Stadium if the appropriate offer comes around, according to The Guardian.
The choice of whether West Ham can survive without Antonio and carry on with just Ings and Scamacca may then fall to Moyes. With 14 goals, the £85k per week striker led the Hammers in goals scored throughout the course of 22/23.
Antonio has constantly given David Moyes’ team dangerous offensive weight, despite having a mixed 2022–23 season for the east London club. As they plan their first season without talisman captain Declan Rice, Moyes’ team is planning for a radical summer reconstruction.
Following the agreement of Rice’s record £105 million transfer to Arsenal, West Ham will work to make sure the tremendous profit caused by the departure of the gifted midfielder is judiciously invested. Tim Steidten, the new technical director, will concentrate on bringing in players with long-term potential as the Hammers consider their transfer alternatives.
