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West Ham transfer news: Marko Arnautovic future depends on one man - Sky Sports reporter
MARKO ARNAUTOVIC’s West Ham future rests on the shoulders of manager Manuel Pellegrini, claims Sky Sports reporter Kaveh Solhekol.
Arnautovic: West Ham ‘should have seen it coming’ says pundit
Arnautovic has made it clear via his brother and agent, Danijel, he wants to leave West Ham.
The Hammers turned down an offer of £35million from Chinese Super League club Shanghai SIPG last week.
Arnautovic wants to move to China to compete for honours as well as doubling his current weekly wage.
Solhekol claims the Austria international has been professional on the training ground constant speculation over his future.
Pellegrini says ‘I want him to stay’ then he will have to stay because he’s got a three-and-a-half-year contract
West Ham are looking at potential replacements for Arnautovic in case he were to leave.
But Solhekol says that decision is solely down to Pellegrini and the board will do what he wants.
“As of yet, Shanghai SIPG haven’t come back in with an improved offer,” Solhekol said on Sky Sports News.
“West Ham have said they will not let him go for £35m, that is not enough.
“I think you’d need to start offering about £50m before West Ham would be interested in him leaving.
“But that offer has not been made yet.
“In the meantime, West Ham are intelligent, they’r being cute, they’re being clever.
“They’re looking at the market and looking at possible replacement if Arnautovic was to leave.
“But he’s not for sale and the final decision will be made by the manager Manuel Pellegrini, it is up to him.
“If he turns round and says ‘look, this guy, his heart’s not in West Ham, he doesn’t want to be here, let’s ship him out to China, I’ve got other targets, I can improve the squad’, then the owners will back him.
“But if Pellegrini says ‘I want him to stay’ then he will have to stay because he’s got a three-and-a-half-year contract.”
West Ham are back in action this Saturday when they visit Bournemouth (3pm).