Peterborough United almost signed West Ham United star

Peterborough United co-owner Darragh MacAnthony has revealed his club almost signed West Ham United star Michail Antonio straight from non-league.

By Alan Swann

Published 4th Aug 2020, 07:00 BST

Updated 4th Aug 2020, 10:07 BST

MIchail Antonio in action for West Ham at Manchester United last month. Photo: Catherine Ivill/NMC Pool/PA Wire

Posh monitored Antonio when he was a winger playing for Tooting & Mitcham in the early days of MacAnthony’s reign in 2007.

But Posh didn’t go through with their bid and the player went on to join Reading.

Antonio (30) was a star of West Ham’s successful fight against relegation from the Premier League this season.

MacAnthony, speaking on his popular ‘Hard Truth’ podcast said: “There are always gems to be found in the lower divisions and non-league.

“Jamie Vardy has just won the Premier League Golden Boot prize after joining Leicester straight from Fleetwood and look at what Michail Antonio has done recently at West Ham. We nearly took him when he was a non-league winger.”