OPINION
With a deal for Andriy Yarmolenko reportedly just around the corner, it must lead to a big question mark over the future of Michail Antonio as there is little chance he will want to endure another season on the sidelines.
The London-born right-winger spent most of 2017/18 on the treatment table while the season prior to that, he endured another injury-ridden campaign.
But now that the 28-year-old has recovered and is set to join his teammates in Switzerland (source: football.london) where they are spending their pre-season, if an insider’s claim is correct and the Borussia Dortmund ace Yarmolenko is heading to the London Stadium, Antonio will likely find his game-time significantly reduced if he sticks around.
The move for Whilshere is expected to be completed on Monday so that he can fly to Switzerland. Yarmolenko deal is also processing! Both are great signings in my opinion
— ExWHUEmployee (@ExWHUEmployee) July 8, 2018
The £70,000-a-week (source: Spotrac) midfielder has three years left remaining on his contract with the Hammers but it is unlikely the board will be wanting to pay such a significant wage to a player who is only getting scraps of action, particularly in a summer where they have been splashing the cash and it could spell the exit of the former England international.
Antonio has suffered from some bad luck, but three goals in 21 league games last season wasn’t good enough and it looks like he’s going to get upgraded.
The Hammers finally look as though they are going to attempt to push on next season by signing bonafide talent and the winger does not fit into that category, so they should look to move him on in the coming weeks.
