OPINION
West Ham manager Manuel Pellegrini has wasted no time in getting straight to business in the summer transfer window – but his numerous signings have not been matched by those leaving the London Stadium.
The Chilean boss has welcomed the likes of Jack Wilshere and Andriy Yarmalenko to east London as he looks to drag the Hammers up the Premier League table, although he is still waiting to make some meaningful sales from the first team.
Sky Sports have reported that Michail Antonio is one of a number of Irons senior stars up for sale this summer, with a £15million-plus price tag slapped on the 28-year-old’s head, but it could prove to be something of a battle to get him off the books this summer.
Pete Graves, the Sky Sports broadcast journalist, claims on his personal Twitter account that the midfielder is demanding that he stays in London this summer for personal reasons, which limits the number of clubs who will be able to secure his signature.
I'm led to believe Antonio is keen to stay in London for family reasons. Regardless, not on Rafa's list. https://t.co/1ARRYfyiSx
— Pete Graves (@PeteGravesTV) July 13, 2018
If Pellegrini cannot find a suitor willing to pay the price the club are demanding that Antonio himself would be happy to move to, then it could come as a big blow to his plans for the rest of summer – that £15million would go a long way to further strengthening the team.
Antonio has every right to refuse a move and sit on his wages at West Ham, and his personal demands are well within reason – but it hands the Hammers a difficult situation to navigate in order to keep all parties happy.