OPINION
Newcastle United must beat Crystal Palace to signing Michail Antonio by quickly stumping up the £15million needed to secure the West Ham winger’s services.
According to the Daily Mirror’s Live Transfer Blog (12:44) the Magpies’ Premier League rivals were considering making a bid for Antonio as he was seen as potential replacement for Andros Townsend.
The Magpies are thought to be the club pursuing the Palace winger which means that the London club won’t make a move for Antonio until Rafa Benitez’s successfully agrees a deal with them for Townsend.
This means the Magpies could sneak in and beat their Premier League rivals to Antonio’s signature as they’re the club holding all the cards as it stands.
Benitez should look to try to sign Antonio, who the club were linked with a move for by Team Talk earlier in the window, as the 28-year-old could easily be a success at St James Park.
Sky Sports previously reported that the Hammers were set to consider offers of £15million and above for Antonio who currently earns £70,000-a-week (as stated by Spotrac) at the London Stadium.
The Magpies must meet the Hammers £15million demand for Antonio as the winger, who is a decent dribbler as well crosser of the ball, would be a better option to pursue then Townsend.
The 28-year-old may have had a disappointing 2017/18 campaign due to injuries but when fit he is able to provide Benitez with a lot more options than Townsend would.
Antonio is defensively sound as well as an attacking threat, with Townsend being questionable when it comes to aiding his side’s defence, and can play in a variety of positions.
The proven Premier League performer during the 21 outings he did managed for the Hammers last season featured as a right-midfielder, right-back, left-back, left-sided midfielder and even weirdly as a centre-forward for a few games.
This means Antonio would give Benitez a lot more options when it came time to deciding how to use him.
The Hammers winger is also likely to be significantly cheaper than Townsend with his £15million price tag as the Northern Echo previously claimed that Palace would look to agree a £22million deal for Townsend’s services with the Magpies.
Therefore the Magpies must beat Palace to Antonio by swiftly meeting the £15million demand that the Hammers are willing to sell him for.
