According to reports this morning West Ham’s Fan favorite, Marko Arnautovic has admitted he is ready to leave West Ham to pursue Champions League football, with the aim to compete at the highest level possible before his career is over.
Arnautovic, who moved to east London in the summer of 2017 for a then club record fee worth up to ÂŁ25m, has been in outstanding form since being played as a striker by former manager David Moyes last season, and scored 11 Premier League goals last term. He has continued to impress this season having already found the net five times in 10 matches.
Arnautovic has been reported to of said “I’m 29, so that’s the best age,” he told the Austrian newspaper Kurier. “It’s clear that I want to compete with the best players. But in this affair I totally trust my brother.”
Back the summer Manchester United were linked with a move for Arnautovic, but West Ham were unwilling to sell a player who is a crucial member of the team. Arnautovic is represented by his brother Danijel, who helped push through the move to West Ham at the annoyance of Stoke City Chairman. “He’s already playing in the Premier League and that’s where the best players are. But for a player like Marko this cannot be the end,” said Danijel Arnautovic, which of course won’t sit well with the club’s hierarchy.
He’s a big part of West Ham’s team but I think it’s possible to tease out more of him. For that to happen, he has to play for a top team. Marko is ready for the next step. A player like him should not play against relegation. He should play for the international spots.
“Marko is really enjoying playing for West Ham. He loves that club and the fans. But there is still that feeling, that this cannot be the end. And everybody should understand that.”
Asked if it was possible Arnautovic could leave soon, his brother added: “That’s possible. It was already very, very close this last summer.”
We hope that we don’t have another Payet situation on our hands, only time will tell as I’m sure the speculation will only continue close we get to the January transfer window.