According to sources from Football Insider, Al Ettifaq of the Saudi Pro League is interested in signing West Ham forward Michail Antonio. Prior to the start of the season, the Middle Eastern team, coached by former Aston Villa and Rangers manager Steven Gerrard, is searching for offensive reinforcements.
The 33-year-old Antonio is reportedly on the shortlist along with the former Anfield hitman, Origi. According to a reliable source who spoke to Football Insider, West Ham has given Al Ettifaq optimism that the Jamaican international would be available this summer. It is anticipated that the Irons won’t prevent Antonio from making what would be a successful transfer in his later years of his career.
In 48 games in every competition last season, he scored 14 goals as Danny Ings and Gianluca Scamacca battled with form. Six of the goals were scored in the Europa Conference League, where West Ham memorably won the cup after defeating Fiorentina in the championship game. Antonio’s rumoured £85,000-per-week deal, which he signed in 2022, has just one year left in it.
Since joining the team in 2015, the former Nottingham Forest player has scored 61 Premier League goals, marking him West Ham’s best scorer in the top division since 1992. Everton and Wolves were very much interested in acquiring Antonio in January, but a deal never materialized, according to a report from Football Insider.
West Ham Have Made A Verbal Proposal For Ward-Prowse
Football Insider’s sources claim that earlier in the summer transfer window, West Ham’s verbal bid for Southampton captain James Ward-Prowse was rejected. The Irons have had their eye on the 28-year-old for some time, and they are eager to finalize his transfer after losing their own captain, Declan Rice, to Arsenal last week.
The Londoners are reportedly prepared to formally express their interest and put Southampton to the test with a formal proposal. Ward-Prowse participated in every Premier League match during the 2022–23 season and has made 343 appearances in the top tier overall since his debut in 2012. Last season, he made 45 appearances across all competitions and registered 11 goals and five assists.
Since his breakout in 2012, the England international has deservedly established a reputation as a set-piece expert, amassing 55 goals and 53 assists in 409 games for Southampton FC. Ward-Prowse has 17 Premier League free-kick goals in his career, behind David Beckham’s all-time record by only one.
His contract at St Mary’s Stadium will expire in June 2026. The midfielder has returned to pre-season training on the south coast, where he has played friendly matches against Benfica and Goztepe. After winning the Europa Conference League last season, the hammers will compete in the Europa League in 2023-24.
