Chelsea received an immediate response from West Ham after they tried a stunning move to sign former Nottingham Forest man Michail Antonio. According to The Observer, the Blues wanted the striker as a cheap loan option.
Antonio has been a revelation since signing for West Ham for £7 million in 2015. Just lately, however, he’s found himself way down the pecking order at the London Stadium and a move could be on the cards.
The player could be allowed to leave this month – but it won’t be on loan. The 32-year-old will be sold but only if an offer comes forward to sign him on a permanent basis.
Antonio is West Ham’s top goalscorer in the Premier League era. He’s found the net 66 times and registered 41 assists during 253 appearances for the team based in the capital.
It’s quite something that Chelsea want to sign Antonio. At 32, he’s hardly one for the future and in signing him on loan they clearly only fancied him as a short-term fix to their problems.
The speed merchant was class for Forest – even if his time at the club was short and sweet. He scored 19 goals and claimed 15 assists as he turned out just 54 times for the Reds.
Chelsea tried to sign Antonio
Forest do have some fond memories of Antonio playing for them during his career. That said, some are still smarting from the fact that he actively decided to force a move away from Forest.
Antonio being linked with Chelsea is somewhat odd. Chelsea are really struggling right now and they need transfers that can come in and make an impact right away.
Although the £69,000-a-week star is proven in the Premier League, he’s way down the pecking order at West Ham. With that in mind, he could have take some time to get up to speed if he’d have gone to Chelsea.
Graham Potter doesn’t have that luxury right now. He needs something to happen quickly and perhaps Todd Boehly would be better served going in search of stellar signings instead.