Bilic Antonio ‘block’ pays off

David Sullivan is relieved that Slaven Bilic put the block on Michail Antonio going anywhere on loan earlier in the season.

ClaretandHugh had revealed several weeks ago that five clubs had approached the Irons looking for a loan deal involving the player but Bilic had knocked them all back. https://www.claretandhugh.info/five-clubs-chase-unhappy-antonio/ .

Now Sullivan has gone on the record confirming the story and clearly believes it shows how highly the boss rates the £7 million signing from Nottingham Forest.

Sullivan said: “Michail Antonio is now getting back to fitness and people are starting to see why we bought him.

He’s a great member of our team and our squad and it shows why the manager would not loan him out when six Championship clubs came in for him before the loan window shut four or five weeks ago.

And thank goodness we didn’t as we need him,” he added.