Some good news for the Hammers is the fact they could have Michail Antonio back for Wednesday’s derby at Arsenal.
Antonio strained a hamstring against Leicester two weeks ago but is back in full training and is likely to return.
Diafra Sakho, who has been out since November with a back problem which required surgery, is also nearing a return.
Andy Carroll, who was made captain against Hull and scored his 50th Premier League goal, said: “It was great to have the armband but at the end of the day it means nothing if you don’t get the results.”
New Zealand star Winston Reid is also in line for a new contract with £20m buyout clause as Prem clubs circle
WEST HAM will offer England star Michail Antonio a new £65,000-a-week deal at the end of the season.
The 27-year-old has been a standout performer during a poor first campaign at the London Stadium for the Hammers.
West Ham will offer Michail Antonio a new £65,000-a-week deal
Slaven Bilic is desperate to keep his star men, and will offer Antonio fresh terms along with defender Winston Reid in the summer.
A Hammers source said: “Michail will be offered the new deal after what has been a fine season for him personally.
“The club wants to keep its top players happy and he is certainly one of them, he’s been fantastic.
“There will be a few others who will get new contracts as well. It’s been a tough year but we’ll get there.”
England international Michail Antonio has shone for West Ham this season
West Ham manager Slaven Bilic is desperate to hold onto his best players
Michail Antonio earned himself an England call-up with some fine displays this season
West Ham United's interest in Chelsea outcast Michy Batshuayi is well
documented but could they also snare another Blues star struggling for game
time. Slaven Bilic missed out on permanent deal for Belgian last year but
could now be set to land him in swoop from their West London rivals,
according to the likes of The Sun. Batshuayi is yet to start a single
Premier League game but the Blues are believed to be reluctant to let him
leave on a permanent transfer as they feel he may still develop into a
top-class striker. The Hammers had a £31million bid accepted by Marseille
last summer before Chelsea trumped them with a higher offer. Ironically,
despite a dearth of striking talent in their ranks, scoring goals has been
the least of West Ham's problems this season. Their leaky defence is amongst
the worst in the top flight so could the East Londoners bolster both ends of
the pitch with a double loan swoop on Stamford Bridge this summer. That's
because Batshuayi's teammate Kurt Zouma has admitted to BeIN Sports he may
have to look for a loan move in a bid to force his way back into the France
squad in what is a World Cup year. "A loan move ahead of the World Cup? Why
not," Zouma told BeIN Sports. "We will see at the end of the season, but I
am focused on Chelsea. I am confident and I know that I will play. I have
not had a discussions with Antonio Conte about the future.”
With 33-year-old Jose Fonte failing to impress since his £8 million January
move from Southampton and Winston Reid injury prone, West Ham need quality
reinforcements at the back. While Bilic waits to see if Academy duo Reece
Oxford and Reece Burke have what it takes to step up to the first team,
Zouma would be a good option in the medium term until the young charges are
ready to establish themselves.
