OPINION
The assumption regarding West Ham United attacker Marko Arnautovic has, for some time, been that he will be sold by the club this summer.
That is the right call given the player’s nose dive in form and his atrocious behaviour this past January. However, a spanner was thrown in the works on Friday.
Reliable Hammers news source Claret & Hugh reported that the 30-year-old could be set for a long stay at the London Stadium, despite his public desire to leave just a few months ago.
That seems like a bizarre stance, despite his slight return to form recently. This is a player in the back end of his career who is a proven dressing room nuisance. Why would you keep him around?
Throw in his monster wages and you have a pretty straightforward decision this summer. Manager Manuel Pellegrini will likely look to recalibrate his attack this summer, with Lucas Perez and Andy Carroll almost certain for the exit door, while Javier Hernandez’s future is uncertain as well.
Why not go for a straight clear-out and banish Arnautovic as well. The money from his sale could go towards replacing him, likely with Maxi Gomez. Promote Xande Silva to the first team and bring in a proven Premier League attacker to help Gomez and you’re looking at a fine attacking unit.
That would seem to be the most sensible course of action after the Austrian’s second half of the season. A bid from China will surely be forthcoming once again and Pellegrini must accept it. Let’s hope that Claret & Hugh’s report does, on this occasion, turn out to be inaccurate.
