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West Ham transfer news: Surprise Marko Arnautovic admission made by Pellegrini
MARKO ARNAUTOVIC will be sold by West Ham to the Chinese Super League, so long as the price is right.
That's according to Hammers boss Manuel Pellegrini.
The striker has been linked with a move to an unnamed Chinese side, and the club confirmed a £35million bid was rejected.
He would have been in line for a huge wage increase, and it is believed that the forward wants to leave.
However, West Ham insist that the player is not for sale, and will not leave.
After Arnautovic’s agent - his brother Danijel - released a statement confirming he wanted to quit for China, many expected him to kick up a fuss if the move was blocked.
But manager Pellegrini insisted that Arnautovic would not sit out of any games in order to push through a move.
”If I say the player must stay, the player will stay,” he told press on Thursday.
“I don't have any problem with the club.
“In all the months I've been working here I never had any problems with the owners about that.
“So they are not forcing me to sell Marko Arnautovic.
“But I think as a manager the best thing is to take the solution that is best for the player and the club, both together.
“I am not telling the club about it.
“If they agree, we don't have any problem to change.
“If it's a good deal for both parties we will arrange to be without Marko. But the club doesn't want to sell him.”
Arnautovic was strongly linked with a move to Manchester United last summer, before Jose Mourinho reportedly decided against making a move.
Unlike the Premier League, the Chinese Super League transfer window closes on February 28, meaning the Hammers have a long wait before the forward's fate is sealed.