West Ham United set to offer ‘huge’ new contract to talismanic striker

West Ham United are in talks with Michail Antonio regarding a ‘huge’ new contract deal for the Jamaican international, according to a recent report from Football Insider.

Several clubs are thought to be interested in snapping up Antonio, whose current deal will expire in the summer of 2024 - West Ham do have an option to extend his contract by an extra year, however.

Who is interested in a deal for Michail Antonio?

As things stand, despite Football Insider’s claim, it is unclear who is interested in a move for Antonio - though there are rumours that clubs in the Saudi Pro League are looking at him.

In the 2023 summer transfer window, Antonio was thought to be in talks with Al-Ettifaq over a big money - ultimately, however, the former Sheffield Wednesday man opted to stay put. He was also linked with Leeds United [via Football League World], but nothing came of this. He was also linked with Celtic, but these reported were emphatically rubbished [via GlasgowWorld].

Should West Ham United offer Michail Antonio a new contract?

Since Antonio signed for the Hammers in 2015, he has been an excellent servant to the club. Over the course of his time with them, he has made 238 appearances in the Premier League, scoring 63 goals.

However, this season, the 33-year-old has begun to show signs of decline. He has scored just two goals over the course of 12 games across all competitions, registering a single assist along the way. However, there is far more to it than just this - his hold-up play, which once characterised him as a player, is also becoming less effective.

If Football Insider’s report is to be believed and that West Ham are set to offer him a big-money deal, it could prove to be a massive misstep in the future.