Stoke City have rejected a second bid from West Ham for midfielder Marko Arnautovic, says The Mirror.
The Hammers original bid of £15 million was rejected only days ago, and the club believed returning with a larger bid would secure the want away Austrian’s services, however their efforts have been rebuked by Stoke yet again.
The Hammers bid £17 million for Arnautovic which is well off the £25 million mark that the Potters value the 28-year-old.
Arnautovic handed in a transfer request at the Potters whilst on pre-season earlier this week having been with the club since 2013. He signed for Mark Hughes’ side from Bundesliga side Werder Bremen in a deal worth only £2 million.
Slaven Bilic is looking to strengthen his side after an hit-and-miss campaign last season and with winger Sofiane Feghouli outbound to the Turkish Super Lig, Arnautovic would be a straight replacement for the Algerian.
West Ham are expected to return with a third bid before the weeks’ end.
