Former West Ham striker Michail Antonio is a free agent after his contract at the London Stadium expired, and there’s unsurprisingly speculation linking him with Leeds United and others that are searching for a new signing up front.

Daniel Farke, as things stand, is going into the first game of the Premier League season with a Championship-standard attacking group, with only Lukas Nmecha arriving during the summer while Manor Solomon left the club after his loan concluded.

It leaves plenty of work to be done as the club prepares for a survival challenge, and United aren’t short of players being touted for moves to West Yorkshire, some more eye-catching than others.

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Would Michail Antonio be a viable signing for Leeds United up front?

Nmecha arriving as a free agent proved Leeds’ willingness to bulk out their squad with the odd cheap deal as and when appropriate, but two notable Premier League-hardened strikers remain without a club this summer.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Michail Antonio are still free agents after leaving Everton and West Ham respectively, with the latter’s contract expiring following a huge long-term injury layoff after a gruesome car accident back in December 2024, having scored 68 Premier League goals during his time with the Hammers.

(REUTERS/Toby Melville)

TalkSPORT duo Ray Parlour and Ally McCoist (11/8) believe he’d be a “no-brainer” for a side like Leeds in the Premier League relegation scrap.

“I would say it’s a no-brainer,” Parlour opened. “You might as well take him. He’s got all the experience. He can probably help young players in the club itself. He could be the last 15, 20 minutes off the bench.

“I saw him yesterday. He looks extremely fit, raring to go,” McCoist responded. “I actually think the Leeds fans would really like him. I think he’s the type of player Leeds fans would take to.”

Truth behind Michail Antonio being spotted at Leeds United’s Thorp Arch training ground

Interestingly, another reason for the rumour to gain legs was that the 35-year-old was seen at Leeds’ Thorp Arch training ground recently.

However, FourFourTwo’s Joe Donnohue shares that his presence in Wetherby wasn’t in order to pursue a free transfer to United, but instead regarding a new sports supplements venture that Antonio has founded.

Antonio founding this new company has also seen him make likewise visits to Championship clubs Ipswich Town and Oxford United as well.

Being at the back end of his career, Antonio is claimed to be outside of the age range Leeds are looking at on their striker shortlist.

Michail Antonio will not be joining Leeds United, and is not a “no brainer”

The notion of “Premier League experience” being the key driving force behind players seemingly being good fits for clubs like Leeds doesn’t make much sense.

On the one hand, someone like Sean Longstaff could prove a shrewd signing for many reasons, but it’s more to do with what he offers on the pitch and the sort of character he can be in the squad, as opposed to the fact he’s played in this league before.

Antonio hasn’t kicked a ball in eight months, and Leeds need a striker that can start games and lead the line effectively, which he simply cannot and probably won’t be able to again at a Premier League level after such a horrific injury setback.

The same probably goes for Calvert-Lewin, who would be viable if consistently fit, but we all know that he’s unable to keep himself available.

Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!