‘Changed’: Moyes says £7m West Ham player has been transformed and is now playing his best football ever

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David Moyes has said that Michail Antonio was transformed at West Ham United and is now playing the best football of his career.

On The Big Interview with Graham Hunter, David Moyes was asked about several members of his current squad.

One of the players he highlighted was forward Michail Antonio, saying: “Michail Antonio changed from being a wide player to a centre-forward (at West Ham).

“(He’s playing the) best football of his life, (it’s the) best time of his career.”

Antonio transformed at West Ham

It’s hard to argue with Moyes’ assessment of Antonio’s time at West Ham.

Antonio joined West Ham on deadline day in 2015 from Nottingham Forest for around £7m.

The Hammers manager at the time was Slaven Bilic, who primarily used him as a right-winger or even at right-back.

He was used sporadically as a centre-forward over the next few years, but it wasn’t until the 2019/20 season that he made the position his own.

Moyes’ predecessor Manuel Pellegrini gave Hammers fans a taste of what Antonio could do as a number nine, but it was the Scottish manager who let him flourish in that position.

The Jamaican international has reached double figures for goals scored in the last three Premier League seasons.

Antonio will have competition up front this season

However, West Ham have invested heavily this summer in another centre-forward, with young Italian international Gianluca Scamacca joining the club for £35m.

Scamacca was only fit enough to come off the bench against Manchester City on Sunday, but has already impressed Moyes in training.

Having competition in the squad is only going to push Antonio harder to perform, and given the amount Moyes trusts the 32-year-old, we’re sure to see plenty more of the forward before his time at the London Stadium is up.