Michail Antonio is in discussions to leave West Ham but attacking injuries are a ‘stumbling block’

Michail Antonio admitted on Thursday that he is in talks to leave West Ham, but his club is reluctant to sell its only fit senior striker due to injuries to Gianluca Scamacca and Danny Ings.

The 32-year-old has been considering a January outing with the club’s all-time Premier League goalscorer, drawing interest from Everton and Wolves, among others in the market for a goalscorer.

Antonio has been a loyal servant of West Ham since 2015, joining from Nottingham Forest for £7m.

However, Hammers’ sources say the fitness of Scamacca and Ings, his £12m new signing who injured his left knee on debut, is an obstacle to sanctioning a sale.

West Ham’s stance could be tested if Antonio pushes to leave, but manager David Moyes is worried about coming up short in their relegation run.

Speaking on The Footballer’s Football Podcast yesterday, Antonio said: ‘Honestly, I haven’t ruled anything out. That is all what I am going to say.

‘There are talks, so whatever happens, will happen. I’m not saying goodbye. I’m saying if it happens, it happens. If it isn’t, it isn’t.

I won’t be angry about staying. I would definitely be mad if I left because I’ve enjoyed my time here, but football is football.”

Antonio said it had been “difficult” for him and jokingly added that he is a “wanted man”, with talks between him and West Ham about his immediate future. Antonio’s current contract expires in June 2024.

“Players move, players stay and eight and a half years at a club, I would never have thought about it because before I came to West Ham the longest I was at a club was two years,” Antonio added.

‘I still have a year and a half here. I can’t say I’m leaving because I still have a year and a half left at the club.

West Ham take on Derby County in the FA Cup fourth round on Monday.