Michail Antonio opens up on January exit rumours amid Everton transfer link
West Ham striker Michail Antonio says that his agent will deal with a potential exit if something happens, amid reported interest from Everton.
The 32-year-old has suggested that he is focused on playing for the Hammers, but if West Ham do not want him, then he will look for other opportunities that will come his way. Right now, there’s nothing to worry about.
TalkSPORT reported on 16 January that the Toffees are looking to sign Antonio this month as Frank Lampard is keen to bolster the forward department.
“There are always rumours in football,” Antonio told Footballer’s Football Podcast (17 January).
“People have seen I have not been playing much recently and they’ve seen that we’ve been struggling. It’s one of those things where all I do is pay attention to myself and make sure I can play whenever I get the opportunity.
“My agent deals with all that and if something happens, something happens. Right now, I’m at West Ham and I have to pay attention to that. If something changes, it changes. We’ve got a striker in and are maybe looking at other strikers because, right now, we’re not doing it.
“If they [West Ham] don’t want me or Gianluca [Scamacca], they are going to try and get someone out or they might want to have three options. You have to deal with whatever comes your way and that’s how I stand with it. I want to play football, and that’s all I care about.”
Unlikely
Everton are unlikely to sign Antonio this month although he would have been a superb addition.
Antonio played as a lone striker for the Hammers for the past two seasons, and he has done admirably well.
He has got pace, awareness and strength, and is a reliable goalscorer. He has got loads of Premier League experience and would have been perfect for the Toffees who are looking to bolster their forward department.
Like Everton, West Ham are badly struggling in the Premier League and they sit in the relegation zone as well. And it is unlikely that David Moyes will sell Antonio to the Toffees, considering the situation the two clubs are in.
The Toffees badly need a quality goalscorer in their ranks. Since the departure of Richarlison, the Toffees have failed to replenish his void.
There is no constant scorer at the club. Dominic Calvert-Lewin could have taken the centre stage but he has struggled with injuries once again.
Neal Maupay has turned out to be a poor signing for the club, and Everton are in dire need of a new striker. But they are unlikely to lure Antonio to Goodison Park this month.