Marko Arnautovic is set to face a rough ride at West Ham after the club rejected a bid from big-money offer from Shanghai SIPG — but the 29-year-old still expects to play against Arsenal on Saturday.
Arnautovic risked the wrath of supporters when he told the club he wants to leave and challenge for titles after the Chinese club saw an offer — believed to be closer to £28million — rejected by West Ham, who told their star to honour his contract.
He still hopes to play when West Ham resume their Premier League campaign at the London Stadium on Saturday — despite his brother and agent Danijel demanding he is allowed to leave after a contract offer worth more than £250,000 a week.
West Ham expect another offer of around £40m and know the 29-year-old Austrian will push to go. Arnautovic, who has scored eight goals this season and is the club's record signing, is a favourite with supporters. But many were left shellshocked on Thursday as his brother featured on talkSPORT radio underlining his desire to quit.
'West Ham bought Marko for peanuts. They paid £20m for him, which is nothing in the current market,' said Danijel in a statement.
'They bought him to keep them in the Premier League last season and he did that. He took every award at the club — best player, signing of the season and the players' award.
'Now West Ham have a fantastic offer. It is close to double what they paid for him. He wants to go to a new market and challenge for titles. This is what he wants.
'It is his great desire that West Ham accept the offer from China.'
In a plea for supporters to accept Arnautovic's decision, he added: 'He knows the West Ham fans love him and he has a special connection with them, but things move on, this is the world of sport and he hopes they can understand.
'Marko is professional and is preparing himself for the Arsenal game. He will give 100 per cent for West Ham. That is Marko. He will never change. He hopes the fans can respect his wishes.'
Within minutes, a clearly irked West Ham responded by simply saying: 'Marko has a contract and we fully expect him to honour it. He is not for sale.'
West Ham signed Arnautovic for a fee that rises to £25m from Stoke City in July 2017. He was made West Ham's highest earner and signed a five-year contract.
The club sense a similar saga to the one that saw Dimitri Payet force a move to Marseille in 2017. The Chinese Super League transfer window remains open until February 28.
Manager Manuel Pellegrini, who worked in China with Hebei China Fortune, said: 'I talk with all of the players, always. Especially with big players. But we need to hear also what the player wants, what the club wants and I'm not talking about Marko Arnautovic, I'm talking in general.
'To try to grow as a club we need to keep our good players. But in some moments every club can sell some players, bring in another one and it's part of the process that you are doing to grow, so we cannot just talk about one name.
'We know Marko is a very good player so maybe a lot of clubs will want him to play for their team but at the moment he is a West Ham player and we want to keep him. But you never know what can happen in the future.
'I am sure his head will be in the game against Arsenal. I don't think he will leave.'
The Arnautovic camp clearly have their sights set on an exit. While the promise has been made that the player will remain professional in his approach, his temperamental nature could yet prove divisive if he doesn't get his wish.
Therefore the club have had to make contingency plans to replace Arnautovic if forced to sell.
They have earmarked Bournemouth's England international striker Callum Wilson as a potential target.
Wilson, 26, has a better strike record than Arnautovic and Chelsea are also interested in him. He is valued at close to £50m.
Meanwhile, Jack Wilshere will step up his fight for full fitness next week. The 27-year-old midfielder signed for West Ham on a free transfer from Arsenal in the summer.
Since the move, he has had surgery on one ankle but then endured another enforced lay-off because of pain in the other ankle.
Now he is set to resume light training on Monday and could be ready to play again in six weeks.
West Ham confirmed on Thursday that Paraguayan defender Fabian Balbuena is out for up to two months after surgery on a knee injury.
development
0
Come to Chelsea, we'll give you enough challenge and a solid pay.
Elsamek
0
Another one out to fleece the Chinese club for ridiculous money. Would be back in Europe this time next year having collected millions.
Nuckcik
0
I like him at West Ham,such a great player! Speed, height, dribbling, a great shot, physical, he's so well rounded! If he were to leave I'd really love to see him at a Champions League club not China
effectives
0
Get rid West Ham, only going to be a headache from now on....
uselesss
0
It’s interesting that the Chinese club hasn’t even been revealed. It wouldn’t surprise me if this is just an angle to get a new contract at West Ham. I think Arnie is on about £100k per week and wants more (or his brother wants more...).
Pattivargas
0
His brother has been talking about Marko leaving every transfer window so far lol.
ointmentkiss
0
Marko is still really good. If he’s leaving for China, it’s not about chasing titles. He would be a perfect second striker with paco at bvb. Werner is not realistic, but arny in my dream could be.. Will west ham give in and sell?
Bladislav
0
Gonna be a long January for West Ham fans
Ascis
0
He's setting himself the challenge of becoming obscenely rich.
Bostons
0
Funny how just last month he wanted to play Champions League football yet now he wants to go to China..
Mustfer
0
Lets be honest, ‘wants a new challenge’ is complete bollocks. Leaving the Premier League for the Chinese Super League is a challenge ? The only thing at play here is money.- what wages he can get and what fee his brother can cream off as his agent I hope West Ham get more than £39m His brother whingeing that West Ham got him for peanuts isn’t West Ham’s problem. Good bit of business by them. They owe Arnautovic and especially his brother nothing
yonderer
0
He's 29 and being offered a 4-year, £200,000-a-week contract. That's £42million! He'd be crazy to turn it down.
JamesHarden521
0
I have heard so many excuses to force a transfer but to challenge for titles in China is a brand new one. Credit to Arnatovic agent for saying that without choking himself in laughter.
rucksack
0
At the moment this post is right above the one about him going to Chinese Super League.'
just2
0
Good news for Arsenal to be honest cus he would've bullied our defence.
herbivorous
0
His brother claims that we bought him to keep us up, and he did that, so we should all be happy to help him move on. Outright lies. We bought him in the summer, and he was less than inspiring until Bilic was sacked and Moyes played him as a central striker. He did bloody well, and has continued to do well, when not injured, but his brother makes it sound like we were bottom at Christmas and then bought him in January to save us, which is clearly a lie. Makes you wonder what else is dishonest or misleading.
citizens
0
Any opening bid is going to be relatively low, but 28m seems far too low - it¿s not much more than what West Ham paid. Has to be bids of 40m upwards!
oldestwo
0
Everyone is for sale if the price is right.
Yamahai
0
He’s either going to disappear vs Arsenal or score a hattrick against them
winterse
0
Why though...he must still be on a high wage
LoveJUV
0
If the Chinese are willing to double his salary he should run there right now, will probably be his last big contract
doltish
0
I said at the time wait until his brother has snorted the last of his agent fees again....
ingenious
0
No please don't, I was about to transfer u into my fpl team
memory4
0
If he could go ahead and leave before Saturday that'd be cool. He always causes problems for us.
update
0
Is the 100% tax on transfers (purchases) still in place in China?
keaiae
0
Which current/former Arsenal player would West Ham like now?
yonderer
0
He wants to go to a new market and challenge for titles. This is what he wants.