West Ham Confident Michail Antonio Will Stay and Plan Pay Reward

 West Ham’s Michail Antonio (centre) gets past Douglas Luiz of Aston Villa in their final game of the season. Photograph: Andy Rain/Reuters
West Ham’s Michail Antonio (centre) gets past Douglas Luiz of Aston Villa in their final game of the season. Photograph: Andy Rain/Reuters
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West Ham Confident Michail Antonio Will Stay and Plan Pay Reward

 West Ham’s Michail Antonio (centre) gets past Douglas Luiz of Aston Villa in their final game of the season. Photograph: Andy Rain/Reuters
West Ham’s Michail Antonio (centre) gets past Douglas Luiz of Aston Villa in their final game of the season. Photograph: Andy Rain/Reuters

West Ham are confident of agreeing a new deal with Michail Antonio and plan to reward the forward’s excellent late-season form with a pay rise.

While Antonio has a year left on his deal, West Ham are relaxed about the situation as they have an option to trigger a two-year extension. However, the 30-year-old is in line for improved terms after helping the east London club to win their fight to stay in the Premier League, scoring eight goals in his last nine games to help lift David Moyes’s side to safety.

Antonio earns around £70,000 a week, which puts him below West Ham’s highest-paid players. Felipe Anderson, Jack Wilshere, Andriy Yarmolenko and Sebastien Haller are on deals worth in the region of £100,000 a week. It is understood Anderson, who is up for sale this summer, earns around £115,000 a week. The Brazilian winger has lost his place under Moyes, who is looking to raise his transfer budget by selling players who have fallen out of favour.

Antonio does not fall into that category and although West Ham are not in a rush to conclude negotiations, it is expected that talks will go smoothly. While Antonio knows his next deal is an important one because of his age, he does not want to leave the London Stadium.

The versatile forward, who scored 10 goals in total last season, has been a popular figure since joining West Ham for £7m from Nottingham Forest in 2015.

West Ham, who are rivalling Crystal Palace for the Queens Park Rangers forward Eberechi Eze, remain adamant Declan Rice will not be sold to Chelsea this summer. While they are likely to have to make sales before bringing in new signings, they are determined not to raise funds by selling Rice.

One player on his way out is Albian Ajeti, who is set to join Celtic after turning down the chance to sign for Brentford. The Swiss striker, who joined West Ham for £8m from Basel last summer, will join the Scottish champions for £4.5m.

The Guardian Sport



Arsenal Must Be Ruthless to Earn Statement Win at Sporting, Says Arteta

Arsenal FC head coach Mikel Arteta attends a press conference at Alvalade Stadium, in Lisbon, Portugal, 25 November 2024. Arsenal will face Sporting CP in the UEFA Champions League on 26 November. (EPA)
Arsenal FC head coach Mikel Arteta attends a press conference at Alvalade Stadium, in Lisbon, Portugal, 25 November 2024. Arsenal will face Sporting CP in the UEFA Champions League on 26 November. (EPA)
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Arsenal Must Be Ruthless to Earn Statement Win at Sporting, Says Arteta

Arsenal FC head coach Mikel Arteta attends a press conference at Alvalade Stadium, in Lisbon, Portugal, 25 November 2024. Arsenal will face Sporting CP in the UEFA Champions League on 26 November. (EPA)
Arsenal FC head coach Mikel Arteta attends a press conference at Alvalade Stadium, in Lisbon, Portugal, 25 November 2024. Arsenal will face Sporting CP in the UEFA Champions League on 26 November. (EPA)

Arsenal need to be ruthless to secure a win against Sporting and snap their negative run of form away from home in the Champions League, manager Mikel Arteta said ahead of Tuesday's clash.

Winless in their last four European outings, Arsenal arrive in Portugal following a 1-0 defeat against Inter Milan at San Siro earlier this month.

Arteta's side currently sit 12th in the new Champions League 36-team format, where the top eight teams qualify automatically for the last 16 and the next 16 enter a two-legged playoff to join them.

The Spaniard acknowledged that improving their away form is key to his team's chances in Europe's top-tier club competition.

"It's certainly something we have to improve. We have the right steps, and looking back at the way we played against Inter, we dominated the game and should have won," Arteta told a news conference on Monday.

"But the reality is you have to make it happen, and we didn't. Those steps are what we need to take next - be ruthless and much more efficient in the opposition box.

"We wanted to be higher (in the standings), but it's the position we are in right now.

"We have to play in a way that's going to give us a chance to win the game and fight to do it as quickly as possible. Tomorrow we have a great opportunity to do that."

Sporting, who thrashed Manchester City 4-1 in their last outing, are enjoying an outstanding campaign, remaining unbeaten in second place with 10 points.

Arteta acknowledged the Portuguese champions pose a major challenge for Arsenal but also offer an opportunity for a morale-boosting triumph.

"The run they are on is incredible, which tells you it's not only about their qualities but their ambition and the team energy they have. That's the great challenge we have," he said.

"To come here tomorrow, make a statement, and show that we are capable against this kind of opponent by being ourselves and winning the game."