West Ham ‘ponder extending Michail Antonio’s £90,000-per-week contract’ in heartwarming gesture with footballer’s career in jeopardy following devastating car crash

West Ham are reportedly considering a move to extend Michail Antonio‘s contract after his devastating car crash at the weekend.

The Hammers confirmed in a statement on Saturday that the 34-year-old had endured ‘a lower limb fracture’ after a crash involving Antonio’s silver Ferrari, with the forward rushed to hospital.

The shock news emerged on Saturday afternoon, with clubs and figures from across the football world rushing to pay their tributes and send well-wishes to the Jamaican international. 

The east London club later provided an update on the player’s condition, informing the public that he was ‘conscious and communicating and is currently under close supervision’ as images surfaced of a silver Ferrari with considerable damage to the front right wing. 

The accident is believed to have been in the Essex area, with local police appealing for dash cam footage and witnesses as officers investigate the serious collision in Epping on Coppice Row which took place shortly after 12.50pm.

Following the crash, it emerged that the player was trapped for more than 45 minutes as fire crews attempted to free him from his car. 

Antonio was involved in a devastating car crash at the weekend that left the 34-year-old with ‘a lower limb fracture’ (pictured – the striker’s Ferrari following the crash)

Antonio’s £90,000-a-week West Ham contract is set to expire at the end of the season

And, according to The Times, West Ham are considering a heartwarming gesture to support Antonio and his family during his recovery.

The forward is not expected to feature for the rest of this season due to the injuries he suffered and his deal is set to expire in the summer.

However, the report claims that the Hammers may extend the 34-year-old’s contract, with discussions to take place once he leaves the central London hospital he is in.

Antonio is said to be on more than £90,000-a-week, with the report adding that the club don’t have insurance to cover the situation so will pay his wages for the rest of the season whatever.

The forward is set to turn 35 in March and has 83 goals for the club since joining from Nottingham Forest in 2015, while he is also their record Premier League goalscorer.

If the Hammers were to extend Antonio’s deal, it would come after they gave former defender Angelo Ogbonna an extra year when he suffered a serious knee injury in November 2021. 

Meanwhile, West Ham paid tribute to Antonio ahead of their 2-1 victory over Wolves on Monday by warming-up in ‘Antonio 9’ shirts, while they also walked out in tops bearing his name.

The report goes onto add that the Hammers will auction off signed tops as well as match shirts from the game, with the proceeds to be split between the NHS and Air Ambulances UK charity. 

West Ham paid tribute to Antonio ahead of their 2-1 victory over Wolves on Monday

Goalscorers Tomas Soucek and Jarrod Bowen (above) also dedicated their goals to Antonio

Goalscorers Tomas Soucek and Jarrod Bowen similarly dedicated their goals to the Jamaican star. 

Speaking after the game, Soucek had said: ‘The goal was for him. I dedicated it to him. I said before the game I really wanted to score even more today. 

‘He’s been here since I came here. He is really my favourite. I said it would be tough for me to play without him.

‘I am happy that he is doing fine, but this is for him. He is a massive player and he is in my heart. It was really tough for us. I was with the kids and I saw this information on the phone. 

‘I messaged everyone asking what happened and how he was. I was so scared what was going to happen. It was a really tough week for him, his family and us.’

Soucek continued: ‘We had a video call with him, the whole team, before the game. He smiled to us and gave us all the best. I can’t wait to visit him. He is a really lovely guy and also funny. He even made a few jokes before the game and he wished us all the best.

‘He is West Ham’s all-time leading scorer. He is probably one of the best players West Ham have had. He will be soon with us. These things can happen, but hopefully he will be even better soon.’

Elsewhere, it was reported a dog walker was the first on the scene following the crash, and that Antonio’s first words were: ‘Where am I? What’s going on? What car am I in?.’

Antonio is West Ham’s record Premier League goalscorer and has netted 83 times for the club 

West Ham released a statement on Sunday afternoon to confirm Antonio had surgery

Samuel Woods was driving home after walking his dog in Epping Forest and saw the car on the roadside.

Woods told The Sun: ‘I said to him “hello” to see if anyone was alive. I heard sirens and told him that help was on its way.

‘He was so disorientated. He said, “Where am I? What’s going on? What car am I in?”

‘The paramedics got there really fast. I couldn’t believe what happened. The car smelt of petrol.’

Woods stated that Antonio wasn’t able to make sense of what he had heard as he added: ‘I looked at him and thought, “He’s in big trouble”.

‘I just said, “You’ve had an accident”. He didn’t reply. He was looking around trying to make sense of what I just said. He was sitting in the passenger side.’