Paul Merson suggested that West Ham ace Michail Antonio is as good as anyone in the Premier League at leading the line on his own, when speaking on Sky Sports Gillette Soccer Saturday yesterday (August 14th, 1:26pm).
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The 31-year-old is expected to play a huge role for the Hammers once again this season. He recently signed a new £100k-a-week contract with the East London outfit according to The Mirror (November 15th, page 74).
As things stand, he is the only centre-forward option available to David Moyes.
The Scot will surely bring in another striker before the transfer window slams shut.
Finding someone similar to Antonio for a reasonable fee will be a lot easier said than done, however.
Paul Merson praises Michail Antonio
The Sky Sports pundit believes that the 31-year-old West Ham ace is as good as anyone in the Premier League at leading the line. And because of that, Merson says bringing in a top class striker will be tricky because Moyes can’t afford to drop Michy:
“100 per cent. They brought in Lingard last season and he was phenomenal, he’s not come back. Antonio, when you get him on the pitch, as a target man and the way he leads the line, he’s as good as anyone in the Premier League. He can handle two defenders easily on his own.”
Merson has got a point.
It must be said though, Moyes can still strengthen his front-line without necessarily signing a striker who is better than Antonio, however.
The 31-year-old is incredibly injury prone and losing him for a sustained period of time would be a disaster.
Failing to bring in a back-up for Michy would be negligible at best.
Read also: Report claims West Ham have just lodged official £17m bid for 25-year-old
Merson’s comments highlight just how important Antonio is to West Ham. They also hammer home the need for Moyes to bring in another number nine before the transfer window closes.
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