Fabrizio Romano has confirmed that an £80m Man United star will miss the Premier League clash with West Ham and it’s bad news for Julen Lopetegui.
Manchester United have been hit with an £80m injury blow for West Ham.
But it actually might be an even bigger blow to the Hammers.
The stakes are high as Man United visit the London Stadium for what’s always a big Premier League game.
West Ham vs Manchester United has been dubbed ‘El Sackico’.
Because Julen Lopetegui has a target on his head after West Ham’s shambolic 4-1 defeat at Spurs left his expensively assembled side 16th in the table approaching the quarter-way stage of the season.
And speculation is still rife that Erik ten Hag is facing the sack at the next sign of adversity.
In a major exclusive, the top spokesman at West Ham has spoken on Lopetegui’s future today.
There is a feeling a heavy defeat for the Red Devils could be curtains for Ten Hag at Old Trafford.
Romano confirms £80m Man United star will miss West Ham
Man United’s hopes were given a massive shot in the arm when West Ham’s best player was ruled out of the game.
Mohammed Kudus saw red for a moment of madness at Spurs.
Ten Hag will know just how big that is for his side given he managed Kudus at Ajax.
Man United have their own problems, though.
West Ham believed the visitors could be without at least seven and as many as nine players for the clash.
Manchester Evening News have now confirmed nine Man United players are out of the West Ham game.
There is no lack of irony regarding one of them.
Fabrizio Romano has confirmed an £80m Man United star will miss West Ham and it’s bad news for Lopetegui.
Antony absence is bad news for West Ham boss Lopetegui
Ten Hag is often goaded over the fact he spent £80m on Antony instead of signing Kudus.
To make matters worse, West Ham paid just £38.5m for Kudus.
Now Romano has confirmed Antony will miss the game through an injury sustained in Man United’s Europa League draw at Fenerbahce.
“Manchester United tests confirm that Antony suffered a sprained ankle,” Romano said on X.
“Brazilian winger will surely miss the next game vs West Ham.”
The irony is this could actually be bad news for the Hammers.
Man United fans have been critical of Ten Hag for continually starting Antony this season.
Red Devils supporters have wanted to see Amad Diallo continue his progress after impressing.
Amad or Garnacho much more daunting for Hammers
MEN reports that Amad was angry at his latest snub behind Antony in midweek.
Now not only has Ten Hag’s hand been forced over Antony – regarded as one of the Premier League’s biggest ever flops – but Amad is likely to face West Ham with a point to prove.
Ask West Ham left-back Emerson Palmieri who he’d rather face between Antony and Amad.
The answer would be as damning as it is obvious.
Of course Alejandro Garnacho may even be played on the right with Marcus Rashford on the left too.
Either way it’s worse for West Ham with Antony out.
This is the Man United team that’s likely to line-up against West Ham:
Onana; Dalot, De Ligt, Martinez, Mazraoui; Casemiro, Eriksen, Fernandes, Garnacho or Amad, Rashford, Hojlund.
Hammers News has spoken to a top Man United journalist about the game.
The lead writer on United in Focus says West Ham remind him of Man United for the wrong reasons this season.
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