It is the transfer window and all the media hacks know it is open season to tell whoppers and get away with it, one of the least reliable sources of 'genuine news' is that bastion of (sic) honesty, the Sun! So their article relating to Michail Antonio's contract extension doesn't let the truth get in the way of a good story, this is their usual modus operandi.
The 'Antonio handed new three and a half year deal' headline of their article instantly kicks off with an inaccuracy and continues in the same vein. For a start Antonio has been handed a TWO year extension to his EXISTING deal, which has another 18 months to run, his wages have gone up in accordance to the deal he ALREADY had in place.
In other words Antonio was due an increase that kicked in towards the end of his contract in order to keep him at the club, any contract extension that was going to be offered was to be based on Mikey's level of fitness, which has improved significantly this season due to a couple of lifestyle and fitness regime changes.
Michail Antonio is 31 years old and will be 34 years old by the time his new contract extension expires, Leicester City's Jamie Vardy is 35 years old in five days time as a point of reference, he signed a 4 year / £29,120,000 contract with the Foxes, including an annual average salary of £7,280,000 which equates to around £140,000 per week.
Strikers have ALWAYS attracted higher wages and premiums than other positions, an extra TWO year extension might seem generous, some will say foolhardy given Hammers experience with Winston Reid who was handed a SIX year deal that had to be paid off in the end, but it is market value for a top striker, even an old one!
We heard that Antonio's agent had been approached by 'another London club' who were possibly about to sell their main striker a few months ago with regards to Mikey's availability for a transfer, they were prepared to pay a big fee and substantial wages in the region of £130,000 per week in order to get the Jamaica International on board.
Ironically it was big Mikey's insistence on playing for the country of his parents birth that helped scupper the deal, no one really wants one of their star players jetting off round the World to play in games that are almost pointless due to the paucity of quality players available to the reggae boyz.
So to sum things up, Hammers have just protected their investment for the next couple of years, it is true that Hammers have a dreadful track record when it comes to giving injury prone players long contracts, but the club had little choice other than to stump up. Perhaps this is the residual price for not having secured an additional striker after Haller had been sold? -Ed
