Update emerges on potential replacement as Senior West Ham player certain to leave

West Ham are almost certain not to extend Michail Antonio’s expiring contract this summer, according to Gazzetta dello Sport.

The Italian outlet reported on their website on 11 June that the Irons are now at the head of the queue to sign Roma’s Tammy Abraham, with a cut-price potentially available for the former Chelsea man, because long-time first choice striker at the London Stadium is on his way out.

Antonio was previously a target of new manager Julen Lopetegui when he was at Wolves and according to The Standard on 21 May the 34-year-old was expected to be part of the Spaniard’s plans next season.

But GdS claim his contract is about to end and he won’t be given a new one so he faces an exit.

Does Julen Lopetegui want West Ham forward after Wolves interest?

The Hammers need help at striker whatever happens with Antonio, since his 11 Premier League goals over the past two seasons combined is useful but not enough for a first-choice, and the Jamaica international has been repeatedly linked to a departure during that time.

When Lopetegui’s options at the position are thin, with just four-goal Danny Ings as an alternative, it would be strange if the manager was ready to jettison a player he wanted to sign at his previous club.

It is also not certain that Antonio’s contract is actually expiring this summer, as although the club confirmed he had agreed a two-year deal in 2022 that had an option of a further year there have been suggestions since he has signed another extension which extends the deal to next summer with an option on top of that [West Ham Way, 18 September].

If West Ham had done a better job of recruiting at striker then it is quite possible that Antonio would have been gone by now, and there is once again interest from MLS and the Saudi Pro League [The Athletic, 15 May]

He has been an excellent asset to the club since arriving from Nottingham Forest for £7million nine years ago [Sky Sports] as a winger and sometimes wing-back.

Lopetegui and Tim Steidten need to ensure they have got upgrades coming in before they let strikers leave, and Abraham could feasibly be part of the answer but won’t solve the issue alone.