Surprise Michail Antonio claim comes to light and Julen Lopetegui will be absolutely fuming

It became evident just how reliant we are on Antonio when Lopetegui left him out of the starting lineup for our clash with Nottingham Forest earlier this month.

We missed his physical presence up front badly.

And despite the huge criticism Antonio gets from some West Ham fans, myself included, he’s clearly very highly rated by Lopetegui.

Antonio is definitely not the player he once was, but he’s 34 now, so it’s no surprise that he has slowed down.

That said, Lopetegui doesn’t have another option right now.

A new claim has emerged about his future in East London, and the Hammers head coach will surely not be happy one little bit.

Julen Lopetegui will be fuming after Michail Antonio claim

The former Nottingham Forest man has been with West Ham since September 2015.

He will undoubtedly leave the London Stadium as a club legend.

However, I don’t expect him to leave any time soon, such is our reliance on him as the focal point for our attacking play.

That said, it seems like people close to Micky have been trying to get him a big move in January.

Antonio has been offered to Galatasaray by agents and intermediaries, according to a report from Takvim.

I’m not being funny, but I’d be absolutely fuming with that news if I were Lopetegui.

Antonio, 34, has been our number one striker this season, due to Niclas Fullkrug’s absence through injury.

Whatever you say about the Jamaica international, Lopetegui is clearly a huge fan of him, and his physicality has been vitally important for the Hammers over the past few years.

If he is being pushed to leave the club in January by agents and intermediaries, the club need to step in and have a word.

Michail Antonio is still under contract with West Ham until the summer, and Julen Lopetegui clearly needs him right now.

I’m actually not completely against selling Antonio, but only if he’s moved on with the manager’s blessing.

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