Former Arsenal man Paul Merson believes that Chelsea should target West Ham United attacker Marko Arnautovic.
The Austrian international has drawn admiring glances with a series of impress performances this season, and Merson believes he is the man to secure Champions League football for the Blues.
“He is a proven goalscorer and he gives you something different,” he wrote in his Daily Star column. “He can make things happen and do something special.
“His agent has been making noises about him leaving as well and Chelsea could probably get him for £40m because of his age. They’ve just spent nearly £60m on Christian Pulisic. But they need players now, not for three years’ time. They should go for Arnautovic.”
OPINION
A lot of what Merson says makes sense, although West Ham fans won’t want to hear it. He scored twice against Brighton & Hove Albion in mid week and netted again against Birmingham City in the FA Cup on Saturday; he has evolved into an incredibly talented goalscorer. That’s what Chelsea need, because goals from the front have been in short supply at Stamford Bridge this season. Arnautovic is 29 years of age and so these next couple of transfer windows are probably his last chance to get a move to a big club. Whether Chelsea are actually interested or not is unknown, but his signing would make a lot of sense for them. Having said that, West Ham should be doing everything they can to keep him at the London Stadium. He is their most talented player and is a bona fide match winner. If they want to keep moving forward they cannot afford to lose him.
