The future of West Ham striker Michail Antonio is dependent on whether David Moyes opts to extend his stay at the London Stadium, according to claims given to Football Insider by former Premier League midfielder Michael Brown.
Moyes’ contract expires at the end of the current season – and with West Ham currently sitting comfortably in the top half of the Premier League table, the manager has evidently impressed so far.
However, it was recently revealed that no talks over an extension to Moyes’ contract have yet taken place, placing the long-term Hammers future of the Scottish tactician in doubt.
When asked if failure to tie down Moyes to new terms could impact existing players, Brown told Football Insider:
I think everybody looks at the manager’s situation but everyone’s also aware of how quickly it can change in today’s market.
Yeah, you look at it and go: ‘Well if the manager there really likes me, really picks me,’ I think it does help the situation.
If you’re trying to get Michail Antonio to sign a new contract, David Moyes loves him, he gets on with David Moyes, if Moyes signs a new contract then yeah, you’re going to be in a healthy position to get that one over the line. They don’t really want to leave their business too late.
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Brown is right to suggest the knock-on effects of players’ futures could weigh on that of the manager.
Having now settled into his second spell at the club, Moyes will undoubtedly be building a rapport with key personnel. As the Irons’ top scorer last season, and second only to Jarrod Bowen so far in 2020/21, Antonio’s importance to West Ham is difficult to understate.
This only exacerbates the paramountcy of a new deal for Moyes, if indeed his star striker’s future is inextricably linked with that of the manager.
