Leeds United are reportedly eyeing a shock move to sign West Ham United striker Michail Antonio with the Jamaica star keen to leave the London Stadium – and ex-Whites boss Neil Warnock raved about the forward back in 2020.
Antonio, 33, has entered the final 12 months of his contract at West Ham. It comes after eight years at the club, in which he has played a huge 276 times – having a hand in 118 goals. Antonio has scored 75, and laid on 43 assists.
Right-back, right and left wing and now a centre-forward – he is continues to be West Ham’s talisman. That is even after the Hammers sign big-money strikers to replace him, like Seb Haller, Danny Ings and Gianluca Scamacca.
The latter has left West Ham this week and that is likely to prevent Jamaica international Antonio from leaving until the end of the window, when the Hammers have replacements on board. But, there is interest in the versatile star.
Football Transfers say Leeds and Celtic want Antonio, both of which would be ambitious moves given how crucial he is to the Hammers. Celtic have Champions League football. Back in 2020, Warnock raved about the West Ham man.
“They need to keep Antonio fit. If they had two Antonios in the side, they’d be safe. He was super the other night, the effort he put in, always going to be a threat,” Warnock told Sky Sports, as per Hammers News in February 2020.
Leeds eye shock Antonio move, Warnock raved about him back in 2020
Antonio would be a stunning signing for Leeds. Yes, he has the odd injury issue – but he offers something Leeds do not have. A bit of strength up top, a focal point. Georginio Rutter is better out wide and Patrick Bamford is injured.
Again. Leeds cannot rely on the one-time England star any more. We need a striker that can score goals at this level. Before West Ham, Antonio showed he could. Warnock understands his importance to West Ham, and that says it all.
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