Michail Antonio could be about to make a shock return to the Premier League two months after being released by West Ham and there’s a huge twist.
The situation involving Michail Antonio and West Ham is as bizarre as they come.
After 10 years with the Hammers, Antonio was released in the summer by Graham Potter.
The long-serving striker had battled back from breaking his leg in four places in that horrific Epping Forest car crash in December and had hoped to extend his stay at West Ham.
The Hammers offered Antonio a lower-paid, short-term deal which Antonio rejected.
Free agent Antonio has cut all ties with West Ham
On August 7th, the Irons officially announced Antonio was leaving the club after 10 years.
But, strangely, there was no goodbye message or video from Antonio – the club’s all-time leading Premier League goalscorer.
That fuelled theories that West Ham were planning to re-sign the Jamaican, as they have done with Lukasz Fabianski who was also released at the end of last season.
Two months on from his official departure, the 35-year-old remains a free agent but had been training with – and occasionally playing for – West Ham’s Under 21s.
In an update from a confidant of Hammers chief David Sullivan last month, it was claimed West Ham would not be re-signing Antonio.
But since then the Hammers have a new manager in Nuno Espirito Santo and fans believed he may take a different view given just how bad Niclas Fullkrug has been and how few options he has beyond the German.
There was a major update this week when it was revealed that Michail Antonio and West Ham had now cut all ties.
The striker went on record last month to say he was weighing up offers in England and abroad and insisted he wanted to carry on playing.
That was despite taking on a job as a pundit on TNT Sports.
Antonio set for shock move and there’s a huge twist for West Ham
Now the West Ham favourite is reportedly closing in on a surprise move — and incredibly, his first game could come against the Hammers themselves.
According to leading Hammers insider ExWHUemployee, Antonio has been training with West Ham’s Premier League rivals Brentford.
And the striker is doing so with a view to earning a contract with Keith Andrews’ side.
“He seems to be currently training with Brentford with a view to earning a contract there,” ExWHUemployee states on X.
Hammers News understands Brentford are looking to make a decision on Antonio over the international break.
As West Ham fans know full well, their next game after the break is against none other than Brentford at the London Stadium.
So, in a sensational twist of fate, Antonio’s first game since leaving could be against the Hammers – who he is yet to even bid an official farewell to.
In another sub-plot, Antonio could return to a near-empty London Stadium.
Brentford to make Antonio decision over international break
West Ham fans are pressing ahead with plans to boycott the game in protest against the owners.
Fan group Hammers United have said the boycott should not be cancelled just because it is Nuno’s first game.
Many Hammers cynics will fear the return of Antonio is ominous given the way things have unfolded at the club over the last two years.
Although it was clearly time to move on from Antonio, West Ham went out and signed a striker even more injury-prone who is just one year younger in Callum Wilson.
That was despite fans pleading with the club to go out and buy a top pacy, young forward to lead the line for years to come.
