West Ham Must Give Michail Antonio New Contract

Michail Antonio deserves a new West Ham contract and recent attacking performances suggest the Hammers are in need of the striker.

Michail Antonio has proven to be a vital attacking threat for West Ham throughout his career. The combination of raw strength, speed, and athleticism make him uniquely difficult to defend, causing extreme headaches for Premier League defenders. He has consistently put the ball in the back of the net as of late and needs to be rewarded with a new contract.

Vital to the East London Attack

David Moyes has a habit of turning players into strikers. He did it with Marko Arnautovic back in 2018, and he has now done so with Michail Antonio. Since Moyes returned to the London Stadium, Antonio has scored twelve goals in nine appearances as West Ham’s number nine. It seems Moyes has worked his magic yet again.

Antonio’s style of play has also played a role in his success and has allowed him to fit naturally into Moyes’ system. Antonio’s pace lends itself to success in a lone-striker system where he has more room to run in behind back lines and blaze by defenders that can’t match his speed.

Michail Antonio was on top form before his injury. (Photo by Justin Tallis – Pool/Getty Images) /

Putting Antonio up top has also allowed him to utilize his strength and athleticism. He can hold off any Premier League defender and hold up the ball to get others involved. His athleticism also makes him a nightmare to defend in the box, where a majority of his goals have come from. Sometimes he even holds off defenders while in the box, as seen against Manchester City.

Furthermore, recent performances without Antonio have shown a lack of pace and cunningness in the final third. Sebastien Haller does not bring the same qualities to the table Antonio does and the counter-attacks seem less crisp and cut-throat. It has become even more apparent how important Michail is to this club.

Antonio’s Success Is Nothing New

Michail Antonio has always been a fan favourite since his arrival from Nottingham Forest in 2015. He has always given his all for the club, exhibiting passion and pride in wearing the claret and blue. Antonio has also been a utility man of sorts, playing in several different positions for West Ham, including right back.

But when it’s all said and done, Antonio has simply performed. The London-born striker has scored 41 goals in all competitions for West Ham. Antonio has also scored the 4th most goals for the club in the Premier League era, just eight behind Paolo Di Canio.

Injury History Is Worrying

While Antonio has certainly been worth every single penny of the £7 million West Ham spent to buy him from the Championship, one worrying part of his game has been his injury history. He has appeared in thirty or more league games in only one season (2018/19) during his time in East London.

While writing this, Antonio is once again injured, although it is not thought to be as serious as past injuries. But his hamstrings have proven to be weak and prone to tweak. With a player that will turn 31-years-old before the end of the season, how long of a new contract would make sense?

All In All, Antonio Deserves New Contract

Even though Antonio does have a consistent injury record, he has proven that when he is on the pitch, he can have a tremendous effect on the match. He has the ability to provide for others, as evidenced by his 22 assists for West Ham, and truly does have a distinctive style of play using his rare strength and speed.

But with his contract running out in 2022, the club must soon make a decision on whether to sell or keep the club’s number 30. Antonio loves the club that loves him back and has stated he wants to retire at West Ham when it is all said and done. Antonio reportedly wants a new four-year deal, although that does seem risky given the player’s age and injury history.

I believe a pay raise to a base salary of £90,000 plus add-ons is a fair salary. However, a four-year deal may be too long of a commitment for a player with suspect hamstrings that will be 35-years-old at the end of the deal. At most, a three-year deal should be offered, with the potential for a club option additional year.

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It would be great to see Antonio finish his career at the London Stadium. He has the chance to be our all-time Premier League goalscorer and is a clear fan-favourite. Seeing him in another shirt just doesn’t seem right and the board should offer him the new deal he deserves, and soon.