Replacing strikers is now Pellegrini’s main summer priority but the age-old problem is how to keep them all happy is a big question.
None of any quality want to be back-ups and bench warmers, especially if there is no European football to allow regular rotation.
Andy Carroll and Lucas Perez have gone and Javier Hernandez confirmed yesterday in his own words that he is looking for a new club with West Ham’s blessing.
Pellegrini, Arnautovic, and his brother, have made it clear he is staying next season and the manager has stated he is an important player for plans.
We are told the Irons are still chasing Maxi Gomez valued at £44.5m by Celta Vigo and Salomon Rondon valued by West Brom at £16.5m.
Gomez, through his agents is understood to have sought assurances he will not just be backup for Arnie, and presumably Rondon would have similar concerns.
Historically, Pellegrini has preferred to play one up front so it would interesting how he would keep Arnautovic, Gomez and Rondon happy if we managed to sign both strikers.
Would we really sit £61m of players on the bench behind Arnie?
If we had £61m of talent sitting on the bench because better player are on the pitch, could we say we have stepped up a level ?
I think we saw some bright sparks from Arnie towards the end of last season when he was supporting Antonio from the side, rather than playing as the central striker, so I’d play him on the right, Anderson on the left and Gomez through the middle, supported by Fornals, Noble and Rice in midfield. Knowing we have the likes of Lanzini, Wilshere, Antonio, Yarmolenko and Snoddy available to come in makes for an exciting prospect, and having Rondon coming in to fight for that top spot can only be a good thing. Make it happen!