OPINION
Despite the disloyalty he has shown towards West Ham, it is still the ideal scenario for the club that Marko Arnautovic remains at the London Stadium this month.
The Austria international has had his head turned by big money on offer in China, with Shanghai SIPG reportedly offering him a four-year contract worth £200,000-a-week [BBC Sport].
His brother and agent has made it clear that the 29-year-old wants West Ham to accept the next bid which comes in from China in a move which will have angered the club and it’s fans.
However, the prospect of having to replace Arnautovic in an inflated January market means that a stay for the wantaway striker still remains the best outcome for the Hammers.
At the moment it is looking more likely that he will leave, and should he do so then the club will need to be clever in the market if they want to replace him in the right way.
They may not be able to secure their ideal replacement, with January business being far harder to conduct than in the summer, and therefore may have to swoop for a more short-term option.
According to the Daily Mail, Chelsea striker Olivier Giroud is one of the players earmarked as a potential option for the Hammers this month.
While the 32-year-old is not necessarily the most exciting replacement for Arnautovic, he would certainly be one of the most effective ones.
Giroud has vast experience in the Premier League and would be able to slot straight in at the London Stadium, with the key for January signings being the ability to make an impact on the current season.
The 6’3″ World Cup winner [Transfermarkt] is a big presence up front, much like Arnautovic, and can lead the line capably on his own, while also linking up nicely as part of a two-man strikeforce.
It is clear that he is out of favour at Chelsea under Maurizio Sarri, and a swoop is therefore not a fanciful one for the Hammers, who must look to Giroud should Arnautovic end up leaving.
