Marko Arnautovic is heading closer to the West Ham exit door with the thumb screws well and truly on the club from the striker and his brother.
The odds are shortening quickly on a solution being found to keep him at the club with a senior source admitting to us by e mail: “It’s becoming a re-run of the Payet situation – he wants out on the terms being offered from the Chinese.”
The club is thought to be Shanghai and we have learned that they have made it very clear to the Hammers that they are entirely unready to go any higher than £20 million for the Austrian striker.
Our source said: “It’s a very difficult situation but it’s probably fair to say that the odds are now far shorter on him staying than they are him leaving.”
And he added: “It is very similar to the Payet situation where only one club interested him but Marko’s interest appears to be based on money rather than personal circumstances with gave Dimi’s some justification.”
He added: “It’s the wrong moment to be involved in fighting feuds with players – a decision needs to be made as quickly as we can.”
I think you mean odds are lengthening on him staying Hugh? Shortening means he’s likely to stay, which I think is the opposite of what you mean? COYI
I seem to remember a good few years ago we played with no forwards just 5 attacking midfielders with good goal averages which left the defence of the opposition at sixes and sevens, not knowing who to mark, correct me if I’m wrong.
Not for one second would I bow to these clowns. If Shanghai do not want to pay the fee get the player and Agent to make up the difference. I would be happy to slam him into the reserves for the season. I cannot believe that the club would consider bowing to such a ridiculous offer.
As far as I can see he left West Ham in spirit last January, it would be nice to get a few for and see his physical absence now.
He is over 30, declining in value, take the money and run. Let’s not be principled and lose 20 million.
Rafa’s meant to be on good terms with the board, get him to do us a favour considering he ditched us last minute. Buy him for 30m. (Hugill type transfer). Lets face it, he can stomach Arnautovic for the 1 season they’ll both be there, he’ll probably do a good job for him for half a season 😀
Seriously though, we have to do the deal and please let us learn a lesson (fans and board alike) take good money when it comes in and don’t overvalue our players. I’ll admit, the first time we got a whiff of a bid in January, I was one of those saying no way, £60-70m. Looking back now. That was a crazy price tag and 35m for a moody sod over 30 was actually a great offer, that extra 15m could have brought in a new LB to add to our other signings this summer.
Why,on earth,would be looking for a reason to keep him at West Ham?Even if he was to do an about turn he has burnt his bridges as far as the Hammers fans are concerned.Now he has a problem cos Shanghai have said they will not go higher than £20m.If that’s the case then he won’t be going to China and with some of the things that he and his feeble excuse for a brother and human being have said I wouldn’t even let him into the training ground.Yes sell him but don’t give him away.
He should pay West Ham a fee 10 million back to the club. Then we should sell for 20 million.
I understand westham cant afford to lose 20m but if i had my way i would put him in the reseves to see the rest of his contract and be done with him
Get rid of this bloke before the season starts,he’s a disgraceful embarrassment if what we are being told is factual. Please don’t let us see him again telling us all that he’s back and giving us all the crossed irons. I think most fans will now make it untenable for him to stay.
PS – when something is more likely to happen, the odds shorten, they lengthen when it’s less likely to happen – the people quoted in the article are clearly not punters 🙂
“Marko’s interest appears to be based on money rather than personal circumstances…”
So how much does the greedy b’stard need? He’s already a millionaire! He doesn’t need to “work” now for the rest of his life! As other posters have said, get rid and get someone in who wants to play for the club. Finally, it’s laughable he has a “loyalty” bonus written in his contract!
His just signed a new contract so Rip that carrot that the Chinese are dangling in front of him and tell him sorry but your not leaving for anything less than 40m and let him go on strike. Ban him from club and fine him two weeks wages every month.
I find it crazy that people think 20m is giving him away when we started the summer with a 30m transfer budget. Yes we’d like 35m and perhaps he was worth close to that on ability alone but the facts are, he’s 7 months older than when that bid came in, in those 7 months he has shown his poor character and what a pain he can be, he hasn’t played well apart from a couple of dead rubber games at the end of the season. His value has plummeted and will continue to go down.
Like it or not, that 20m will help the club far more than keeping him will. ‘Put him in the reserves’ Why? So he can still be around the squad to spread his poison? I think his value is 25m currently but if 20m is on the table, take it and get this parasite out of the club so we can get some positivity back before the start of the season. This needs to happen now!
So Arnautovic and the Chinese think they can play hard ball. Well 2 can play at that game – be very clear with him we do not give in to ransom demands (if we do this will happen over and over again) – make a statement for the club, Hit Arnautovic where it seems to hurt him most – the pocket – shove him into the kids team and training, explain the rationale very clearly to him – he will not be allowed to derail and be a disruptive influence, let him rot there. Unless we get an acceptable offer (20m is not)