Hughes Stoked Marko’s staying
PREMIER LEAGUE STAR NETS NEW DEAL
MARK HUGHES admits he couldn’t face the prospect of watching Stoke star Marko Arnautovic play for anyone else.
Arnautovic yesterday killed off speculation about a switch to Everton by signing a new four-year contract at Stoke.
The Austria international was the Potters’ 12-goal top scorer last season and the club’s player of the year as they finished ninth in the Premier League.
Boss Hughes (right) said: “He’s 27 and is coming into the best years of his career.
“If he had left it wouldn’t have been great seeing him don the colours of another team as he goes into those key years.
“We’re going to get the benefit of his best years.
“He’s a very valued member of the squad. He’s well liked and I felt it was important that we got him to recommit. He’s going to be a big player for us for years to come.”
Hughes made Arnautovic one of his first signings in 2013 after snapping him up the former FC ® Twente ace from Werder Bremen for a bargain £2m.
Hughes has since brought the best out of the volatile hitman, who has left behind the bad-boy reputation that dogged him in Holland, Italy – where he was on loan under Jose Mourinho at Inter Milan – and Germany.
And Arnautovic admitted it has helped to feel loved after deciding to stay at Stoke. He said: “For me it feels perfect.
Quality
“We’ve been talking for a long time and there were ups and downs, but, for me, I was never thinking about leaving because I feel like I’m part of a warm family. The fans have always been behind me and that is why I love the club. “We will all try to grow the club and have the quality to do that.” Hughes has signed midfielder Joe Allen from Liverpool and Egyptian winger Ramadan Sobhi this summer and still wants to land West Brom striker Saido Berahino.