West Ham are determined to keep Michail Antonio at the club amid interest from Chelsea, sources have confirmed to Goal.
Newspaper reports on Friday suggested that Antonio could force his way out of the London Stadium, having grown unhappy over his contract situation, and the club’s treatment of a hamstring injury that has ended his season.
Sources at the club, however, have rejected the notion that the winger could look to leave the club, and maintain that he has received the highest quality of medical care available.
There is also understood to be bemusement over the suggestion that Antonio has rejected a new contract; West Ham have indeed offered the England international a fresh deal, which would double his wages, which are currently reported to stand at £35,000-per-week.
While it remains unsigned, Antonio is mulling over the offer, and there is optimism at the club that he will sign it, as Slaven Bilic bids to keep one of his best players.
Despite his injury, Antonio has impressed this season and remains the club’s top scorer, with nine goals in the Premier League.
Chelsea retain a keen interest in the 27-year-old, with Antonio Conte set to explore the possibility of recruiting at least one wing-back this summer.
However, the Blues are yet to enter into formal talks with any targets, and Antonio is merely a name on their list.
Sources at West Ham, meanwhile, have also played down the possibility of the club signing Daniel Sturridge from Liverpool this summer.
Bilic talked up the possibility of recruiting the Reds star this summer on Friday, telling reporters: “If you talk about him as a player, especially if you go back two or three seasons he was unbelievable. But [at the time] he wasn’t a subject for West Ham.
“Now he plays very rarely, but I watched Stoke against Liverpool the other day. He came on and, with a couple of passes, he broke their defence. He split them up some great passing.
“I don’t know the situation there. I don’t see their training. I’ve just seen enough of their games to know that when they are fit they are doing well. Especially in that area with Mane, Coutinho and Lallana.”
However, it is understood that the club are wary of Sturridge’s injury record, having been forced to deal with Andy Carroll’s woes in recent seasons.
Sturridge has made just five league starts this season, though he does have two Premier League goals to his name.
