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Should West Ham’s Michail Antonio get a new big contract?

By Henry Tomlinson

West Ham United's English midfielder Michail Antonio controls the ball during the English Premier League football match between Norwich City and West Ham United at Carrow Road in Norwich, eastern England on July 11, 2020. (Photo by Tim Keeton / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by TIM KEETON/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
West Ham United's English midfielder Michail Antonio controls the ball during the English Premier League football match between Norwich City and West Ham United at Carrow Road in Norwich, eastern England on July 11, 2020. (Photo by Tim Keeton / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by TIM KEETON/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) /
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The savour of West Ham’s 2019-20 season, Antonio is set to receive a big new contract to keep him at the club.

Michail Antonio has been a fan favourite since his £7 million move from Nottingham Forest back in 2015. When the winger first arrived he took his time to break through into then manager Slaven Bilic’s side. Once Anontion did take his chance, he never looked back and has become a vital member of the West Ham team.

Despite not always playing in his favoured position, Antonio has been hugely important to the Hammers because of his adaptability. At times the 30-year-old has played on the wing, at right-back and now has become a potent striker for West Ham.

The 2019-20 season was looking perilous for the Hammers. Antonio however, dragged the club to safety in a Carlos Tevez fashion. The forward turned full “Beast Mode” in the last month of the Premier League season, scoring eight goals in only six games, taking West Ham away from the bottom three.

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Antonio finished the season with his best stats for three years, he scored ten goals and assisted three more in only twenty-four appearances. So unquestionably a new contract for the Hammers top goalscorer would be a distinct and intelligent thing to do. Right?

As good as Antonio was during the run-in of the season, the finances that would go to paying him could be spent wiser. According to spotrac The 30-year-old is on roughly £70,000 p/w, and his new contract would supposedly bring him in line with the clubs top earners.

Andriy Yarmolenko is one of the highest earners at £115,000 p/w. If Antonio is to be brought in line with the top earners, it could cost the club potentially £40,000 p/w plus a signing bonus, which could be hundreds of thousands to a million pounds.

Antonio still has two years left on his contract, and he will be 32-years-old when his current deal ends. The forward is already struggling with being prone to injury, and there is no guarantee that he will stay fit and firing for the next two-to-four years. So if Antonio were to pick up a significant injury, it could be a lot of money wasted.

West Ham fans would surely rather see that money be given to star man Declan Rice. The 21-year-old is linked with moves to bigger clubs, and the Hammers have put a “not for sale” tag on the midfielder. What would make sure Rice remains a Hammers is to bump up his reported £30,000 p/w contract to show how valued he is by the club.

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 24: Declan Rice of West Ham United during the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and West Ham United at Anfield on February 24, 2020 in Liverpool, United Kingdom. (Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 24: Declan Rice of West Ham United during the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and West Ham United at Anfield on February 24, 2020 in Liverpool, United Kingdom. (Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images) /

As well as underpaying Rice, the club has not signed anyone since Tomas Soucek. West Ham is linked with an abundance of players from the Championship, all of which would be receiving a pay rise and would jump at a £40,000 p/w contract if offered it.

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So as much as Antonio has done for the club, which all fans will always be grateful for, the time of a new contract is not now. The club is struggling in the transfer market and is still underpaying Rice. The money for the forward’s new contract can be better spent elsewhere.