LONDON (The Guardian ) - Michail Antonio is set to sign a five-and-a-half year contract at West Ham worth £70,000 a week as a reward for the impressive performances that have earned a call-up to the England squad. Antonio, who joined West Ham in September 2015 for around £7m, agreed a four-year deal last summer having established himself as one of Slaven Bilic’s key players by scoring eight Premier League goals.
The 26-year-old winger has carried on that form, already matching his tally from last season and providing all three assists for West Ham in the 3-0 victory at Crystal Palace on Saturday.
That prompted the vice-chairman, Karren Brady, to pay tribute to the player who began his career at non-league Tooting & Mitcham in the week that Dimitri Payet told West Ham he wanted to leave. "Michail Antonio was in bed with flu yesterday, got out of bed pulled on his shirt & played magnificently today – that’s dedication for you,” Brady wrote on Twitter.
It is understood interest from Chelsea prompted West Ham to secure Antonio on a long-term deal that doubles his salary of £35,000 a week.