ARNIE: I WON’T BE BACK
West Ham star’s agent and brother says Marko wants out of Hammers
WEST HAM have been rocked by Marko Arnautovic’s bombshell that he wants to leave but are refusing to be bullied into selling him. In an explosive row, the Irons have blocked a £35million bid from Chinese club Shanghai SIPG, but the Austrian’s brother and representative Daniel said: “West Ham bought Marko for peanuts. “They paid £20m for him, which is nothing in the current market.
“He wants to go to a new market and challenge for titles. It is his great desire that West Ham accept the offer from China. “It is close to double
what they paid for him. They bought him to keep them in the Premier League last season and he did that. He took every award – best player, signing of the season and the players’ award.
“He knows the West Ham fans love him and he has a special connection with them, but things move on and he hopes they can understand.”
The Hammers remain insistent that Arnautovic won’t be sold. And plans to review his £100,000-aweek contract, which runs until 2022, in the summer will not be brought forward because of the row.
The club said: “Marko has a contract and we fully expect him to honour it. He is not for sale.”
Boss Manuel Pellegrini wants to keep Arnautovic at the London Stadium, but the Irons now have a fight on their hands to retain their star striker.
His brother Daniel added on talkSPORT: “Marko is professional and is preparing himself for the Arsenal game.
“Until he is no longer a West Ham player, he’ll give everything to the club.”