"Better than Antonio" – Journalist drops West Ham transfer claim after summer plan emerges

West Ham need to upgrade on Michail Antonio if they want to go to the next level, according to transfer insider Dean Jones.

Antonio enjoyed a blistering start to the campaign in front of goal but he has struggled to replicate his early-season form in recent months.

When West Ham’s all-time top Premier League goalscorer scored four goals and registered three assists in his first four top-flight outings this term, their failure to sign a striker last summer quickly became a thing of the past.

Antonio was playing arguably the best football of his career, netting twice in a 4-1 victory over Leicester before scoring winners against both Leeds and Tottenham.

After nine league games, Antonio had chipped in with nine goal involvements as the Hammers sat third, just three points behind leaders Chelsea heading into November.

But Antonio’s numbers have dropped off dramatically recently, with only two Premier League goals in his last 20 games, while his only other strike during that period came against Southampton in the FA Cup.

As a result of Antonio’s poor form, West Ham are now in a battle to secure European football for next season, with Sunday’s defeat at Tottenham their eighth loss in their last 19 league matches.

Therefore, having previously been looking for someone to come in as Antonio’s understudy, Jones believes that David Moyes now needs to upgrade on the Jamaica international.

He told GIVEMESPORT: “If West Ham want to improve on what they have done this season then that includes getting a striker that is better than Antonio.”

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