Michail Antonio has revealed West Ham blocked him from leaving the club in January, after a “couple of bids” came in for the striker.
Throughout last month’s transfer window, Antonio suggested that he would be open to a move away from the London Stadium should it materialise, though David Moyes made it clear West Ham would not sell the 32-year-old.
With Gianluca Scamacca out and Danny Ings picking up a knee injury on his debut, Antonio was the club’s only fit striker for the final ten days of January and he has started the last four games.
Speaking on the The Footballer’s Football Podcast, with the window now closed, Antonio discussed the situation and why he is staying at West Ham until at least the end of the season.
“Basically, a couple of bids came in – I’m not going to say who they were,” Antonio said.
“The club said they don’t want to let me go right now. I said, ‘no problem’. I’ll stay here, fight for my place, help the team get out of the relegation zone and that’s it.
“That’s what it was. There was nothing big to report.”
Antonio has scored just two Premier League goals this season, often finding himself behind Scamacca in the pecking order when the Italian has been fit.
Speaking to Standard Sport in December, the forward revealed his frustration at the situation and how often he had been forced to settle for a place on the bench.
“No, I’ve not been happy [with the number of games I’ve played],” he admitted. “I’m someone who wants to play games. I’m never going to settle for coming off the bench and being involved that way.
“That’s something that’s driven me to where I am now. I’m not really about the rotation type of thing — if I’m fit, I want to play.”
