West Ham are playing for him a cagey game in the pursuit of Stoke City winger Marko Arnautovic.
The Potters are holding out for around £25 million for the player but the Irons do not see any other clubs in the race for him and will allow the situation to cool before returning for him.
The only scenario which could see that change would be a move by another club although with none of the top six interested it’s unlikely that “lower level ” clubs will be in the market for the player give the price in his head.
Slaven Bilic is keen to play 3-5-2 this season and sees him as the same kind of penetrative winger on the left as Michail Antonio on the right.
The Irons are keeping a very close eye on the situation but are more likely to move later rather than sooner as they bid to bring him into the club.
Arnautovic has slapped in a transfer request such is his enthusiasm for a London Stadium move and it is believed with a 20 percent sell on clause to his former club Werder Bremen involved, Stoke want £24 million to ensure a £20 million profit.
Good £25m is to much esp with his wages and Harts go thru were is our striker money they tens to make the most not GKs
. Ayew is still a good player Arnie at £15 for me and look around outside of premier league for better deals
I do not understand how Arnautovic is an improvement on Ayew.
Ayew started to get his act together towards the end of last season and has not got to bugger off to The African Nations competition this year.
Which of these two would have a bigger impact next season? I suggest Ayew unless we sell him!
Let Stoke hold out for fantasy money as they are in the same situation as we were with Payet.
I think he plays left wing so therefore he is an improvement on all of our wingers that are more comfortable on the right.
There will be an interesting selection problem if we sign Arnautovic.
If we have one central striker (new or old) then we have to select two wide forwards to accompany the central striker, if we go for the managers preferred system . Who do we leave out of Antonio, Ayew or Arnautovic?
I see what you are thinking there, but surely a luxury dilemma? The players will have injury spells dips in form etc so good to have some cover. Lanzini can also be moved back to central midfield if needed (i.e. injuries again) and playing Antonio, Arnautovic and Ayew behind the striker.
Ayew is a LW by trade wqa that a Marseille and Swansea ttheyhwy uses him up front to some so we thought we could buy him to make Payet happy and a striker.
But is natural position is LW he is not like Snod who is left footed but plays inverted on the right one reason was a not smart buy.
But I agree with Plaistow when you look Ayew got half a season and scores 6 goals(should been 7 @ Liverpool Tap in Miss) and 2 aasists vs Marko who played most the year and got 7 goals 3 assists.
Ayew 18 goals in season in half Marko 27 in 4 seasons.
His size can be threaten but think Ayew for what that want and his attitude issues and plays when he wants like ppl have said this move for him and his brother is about money he doesn’t care about WHU.
If he has a good season he will just try and so same thing to us.
So £15m ok £22-30m no bought for £2m
So long as we sign him I don’t mind if it takes longer but with no striker deals that Close Hernandez looks like another Bacca clearly not interested unless we pay him what he wants which looks unlikely and can easily see Chelsea nicking him because they are looking pretty desperate for a striker also.
Let’s redirect the combined 50m we are planning to spend on this guy and Hernandez to a bid for any of the following 3 Martial, Bats or Sigurdson. if you then consider the savings on Amautovic and Hernandez the 50m spend on a top top player makes the proper sense. The other big plusses is that we have quality that can move us to Top 6 and other players will want to join us. Signing these two players does not improve our chances of top 6 nor our attraction to top players. Signing Martial, Bats or Sigurdson would for sure.
Why would you play these two mercenaries 250k a week in wages when you can get a top player and pay them 125k in salary. I just hope the link to Hernandez is nothing more than that. I do like Amautovic but I am not sure if he is a team player and you can count on him when the chips are down but he is a very decent player. Is he in the same league as Sigurdson, no.
Hate to say it love Gylfi wanted him this and last summer but if he goes anywhere it will be Everton and Martial could be headed doe Inter tho I would take him. Preferably on loan first bc he makes over £100k too John and now Everton want Walcott planning £30m bid for him he would be best of these options on LW.
Would take Michy but Ferbananche are in on him too and Chelsea won’t move him until they have 2 strikers. And he also prob makes over £100k too on loan would be great but I’d they wanted Peodir from £33m be a lot for ua. Any striker at a top 4 club makes high wages..
The club is so scared to look elsewhere bc of last summer BiLic especially but moving from a premier club to club is a risk. Seen plenty move and flop its all a risk in then end. Just have to hope we get 2 CFs like promised
If it is true & as stated in the Sun that we may have to pay up to £30 million for Arnautovic & Bilic did in fact veto the Iheanacho transfer then I think the lunatics are now running the asylum…