Arnautovic “refused to travel” claim

Marko Arnautovic’s absence from the Hammers team yesterday remains an intense topic of conversation and there may be more to things that initially met the eye.

For Hammers former boss Harry Redknapp said on BT Sport that his information was the player had made it clear he wouldn’t travel to Bournemouth yesterday.

Redknapp said: “I’d heard he refused to travel.”

The club, however, continued to insist this morning the player was excluded by boss Manuel Pellegrini after assessing his attitude during the week.

We were told on the phone after Redknapp’s words had been reported: “Every decision concerning Marko and every other player is down to the manager. It was his decision.

“The facts are that he made his decision based on what he had seen and heard after a number of talks with the player.”

The Hammers, however, have made it clear that as things stand there can be no transfer at the fee offered from China which would see them net a profit of around £10 million on the player.

However, this one is set to run right up to deadline day and there are no givens in these situations although the club are unwilling to let him go until they find a suitable replacement.