West Ham United have rejected an offer from Chelsea for Michail Antonio, according to The Guardian.
With the Hammers completing the signing of Gianluca Scamacca for £35.5m last summer, the Jamaica striker has fallen down the pecking order at the London Stadium, only completing the full 90 minutes on two occasions in the Premier League this season.
As such, the 32-year-old has now been linked with a move away from the Irons, with journalist Alex Crook reporting that Wolverhampton Wanderers would be ‘very interested’ if Antonio is made available. West Ham have received their first bid for the striker, although it isn’t from Julen Lopetegui’s side.
According to The Guardian, Chelsea enquired about signing the player on a cut-price loan deal as a result of their injury crisis in attack, but West Ham rebuffed the offer as they are not interested in a deal of that nature.
However, it is further detailed that the Irons are willing to let the 32-year-old exit on a permanent basis, so he could still leave the London Stadium in the January transfer window.
TIF thoughts on Antonio potentially leaving West Ham…
The seven-cap Jamaica international has been a fantastic servant to West Ham, making a total of 253 appearances and becoming their highest-ever Premier League scorer. However, there are signs that time is starting to catch up with him, as he has not been at his usual best so far this season.
Despite being lauded as ‘incredible‘ by 90min journalist Toby Cudworth last summer, the forward has only been on the scoresheet twice in the Premier League this term, again failing to find the net in Saturday’s defeat to Wolves.
Selling Antonio on a permanent basis would allow David Moyes some funds to bring in a younger option in attack to provide competition for Scamacca, who should be considered the Irons’ first-choice striker. He has far greater long-term potential at just 24 and has returned seven goals already this season, most recently in the draw at Leeds a couple of weeks ago.