Sources: Wolves revive interest in Michail Antonio; West Ham open to offers once replacement is signed
Wolves are plotting a move for West Ham United forward Michail Antonio, TEAMtalk understands.
West Ham are open to offers for Antonio with the player entering the final year of his contract at the London Stadium.
Saudi Arabian club Al-Ettifaq have shown an interest in Antonio this summer. However, Steven Gerrard’s side may have cooled their interest after signing former Celtic man Moussa Dembele on a free transfer from Lyon.
Wolves are in need of striking reinforcements this summer, having sold Raul Jimenez to Fulham earlier in the transfer window, and they have held a long-term interest in Antonio.
Wolves considered a move for Antonio in the last January transfer window, but West Ham decided to keep hold of the 33-year-old at the time.
Antonio was in and out of the starting line-up under David Moyes last season, but he still managed 14 goals across 48 games in all competitions, including six strikes in West Ham’s victorious Europa Conference League campaign.
The Jamaican international, who joined West Ham from Nottingham Forest in 2015, is the Irons’ top scorer of all time in the Premier League with 61 goals in 228 games.
West Ham are looking to bring in a new forward before the close of the transfer window after agreeing to sell Gianluca Scamacca to Atalanta. Thus, they are unlikely to sanction the departure of Antonio as well until they bring in a replacement.
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Wolves notebook: Cresswell update, Hoever praise, Stearman move
Wolverhampton Wanderers transfer news on and off the field from BirminghamLive in our notebook feature
Wolves’ hopes of signing West Ham left back Aaron Cresswell could face another hurdle with a report suggesting Premier League rivals Nottingham Forest also want the 33 year old.
Creswell has been a target for Wolves who are reportedly prepared to pay around £2.5m for a player who has made 331 appearances for the Hammers since he was signed from Ipswich Town for £3.75m in 2014. That includes 24 starts in the Premier League last season but it seems he is likely to move on this summer.
However, his destination might not necessarily be Molineux as The Sun’s transfer expert Alan Nixon reports Forest are also interested. He adds: “Cresswell is currently away from Hammers following their failure to agree a fee with Wolves for him. Wolves are willing to pay around £2.5 million but Hammers are holding out for more and want a guaranteed sum rather than a collection of add ons.”
Wolves do have options at left back with Rayan Ait-Nouri, Hugo Bueno and potentially Toti competing for that position for the opening game of the season, at Manchester United on August 14.
Ait-Nouri may have nudged ahead in that selection battle after his performances in back to back friendlies over the last week, efforts that included a superb volley for the opening goal in Saturday’s 3-1 win at home to Stade Rennais.
The club have so far brought in around £90m from player sales this summer but only signed back up keeper Tom King and right back Matt Doherty both on free transfers.
Wolves defender Ki-Jana Hoever earned praise from Stoke manager Alex Neil after a spectacular start to his second loan in the Potteries. The 21 year old right back gave Stoke an early lead in Saturday’s 4-1 win at home to Rotherham, meeting Josh Laurent’s cross with a superb volley.
Neil said: “He’s really effective, he’s really athletic. There are still areas of his game that he can improve on but I thought it was a great start for him and there’s not many players who can take that on that volley and put it on the roof of the net. He certainly can.
Former Wolves defender Richard Stearman has moved into the National League, signing a one-year deal with Solihull Moors. The 35 year old Wolverhampton-born defender played 254 games for his home-town club over two spells, winning two promotions along the way.
He was a free agent after leaving Derby at the end of last season and Moors head coach Andy Whing was delighted to snap him up, saying: “He’s the type of character we’ve been looking for both on and off the pitch, he adds so much to our dressing room.
“He will be a great help on the coaching side of things, helping our younger players develop, putting on individual and group sessions.
“Richard will be a valuable member to the coaching staff as well as the playing staff. He’s played at the highest level for such a long time, I’m delighted we could secure his signature.”
Stearman was an unused substitute on Saturday as Moors opened their season with a 1-1 draw at home to Eastleigh.
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