Sky Sports have this afternoon linked Crystal Palace and Roy Hodgson with a potential move for West Ham United’s Michail Antonio.
Sky reference back to a report earlier in the week where they claimed that sources had implied that the 28-year-old was available for transfer this summer as even though it was believed he had impressed their new manager Manuel Pellegrini, given his injury problems at the club, they were happy to see him move on if a fee in excess of £15million could be secured.
With West Ham’s spending said to exceed £90million this summer if the deal for Lazio’s Felipe Anderson goes through, it’s easy to understand why they’d be looking to rebalance finances if fitness is an issue – despite his versatility and quality which I’d say wasn’t in doubt.
This may well get angled in the press as a Wilfried Zaha issue, but I wouldn’t think so given the other players we’ve seen move on in recent times. If anything it may be more – assuming it’s correct and we do have an interest – an Andros Townsend issue.
If it’s not either, there’s certainly space for him in our squad given his attacking intent and eye for both goals and assists, so I certainly wouldn’t be against this one coming off for Hodgson.