Tony Cascarino has cast serious doubts over the future of West Ham striker Marko Arnautovic as he asks whether the club should keep him or sell him this summer.
The Austrian forward has been on a woeful run of form, failing to score since the speculation linking him with a move to China over the January transfer window – a saga which ended with him being handed a new contract.
After finding himself at the centre of attention for all the wrong reasons against Everton on Saturday, Cascarino heavily criticised his behaviour and insisted it was reminiscent of how his time at Stoke City came to an end.
He wrote in his Times column: “Arnautovic may not be worth the hassle.
“West Ham United have a decision to make this summer: should they sell or keep Marko Arnautovic? Their fans booed the forward when he was substituted in the defeat by Everton on Saturday. He then threw a water bottle in frustration and appeared to say, ‘Shut (expletive) up.’
“I don’t doubt his ability but his attitude stinks. He has not scored since being given a pay rise to stop him moving to China in January. He was a big problem in the 2-0 loss to Everton and is behaving as he did at the end of his time with Stoke City.”
Opinion
Cascarino is saying what a lot of West Ham fans will be thinking about their once taslimanic forward ahead of the summer transfer window. He has gone well and truly off the boil and at times it looks as though the Hammers would be better off playing with 10 men than to have him trying – if that is the right word – to lead the line. His head definitely looks as though it is elsewhere and if Manuel Pellegrini cannot get his star man’s focus back on track then it is almost certainly going to be the end of his career in east London this summer. If the Irons could get a healthy transfer fee for his sale then you can imagine there will not be too many disappointed fans in the London Stadium, although the manner in which his time at the club is petering out is not a pretty sight for anyone involved.
