Reports today coming out of West Ham are coming together to suggest that a January move for a striker is very much on the cards. The trio of Antonio, Ings and Fullkrug, with a combined age of what – ninety five? is not only unproductive but expensive in terms of salaries: Ings won’t leave but sources are now suggesting Antonio will now be sold in the January window – not as a huge fund raising exercise but to remove his £100,000 a week plus from the payroll.
You’ll recall in the summer window it was made pretty clear that West Ham are at the limit for player salaries as a % of income and so without removing a high earner, new players cannot be brought in.
Claiming an exclusive, footballinsider.com are reporting today that ‘West Ham United will entertain offers for Antonio this window”: Hardly surprising as both his and Ings contracts expire in the Summer and so any income is better than letting them leave on a free. West Ham already tried to move Danny Ings on in the summer, even subsidising his wages, but the player was having none of it: So it looks as if a modest fee for Antonio will free up the place for a new striker as we reported earlier today.
Finally time to say goodbye? Mikhail Antonio may depart in January
Putting the report regarding Antonio together with the chatter regarding The Irons’ interest in two different strikers just today makes it clear that Steidten is out to add to West Ham’s options: We have been found out this season with nobody able to put the ball into the net. Antonio has flopped, Fullkrug has been injured and Danny Ings has – one goal. I don’t expect we will be breaking the bank but a new young dynamic forward who can actually work between Summerville and Bowen would revolutionise West Ham’s front line. Can’t happen soon enough in my opinion and will go some way to correct the error of not buying Duran in the summer.