Sky Sports journalist Aidan Magee shared that he thought this summer could prove to be a good opportunity for West Ham attacker Marko Arnautovic to leave the club.
The reporter shared that while the 30-year-old forward had mended fences with West Ham supporters after appearing to want out of the club in January, this summer could be the ideal time to move on as he may be able to attract a club in the Champions League.
Magee even suggested that he may potentially be able to lure an English club set to compete in the competition, as he seemed unsure whether he could stay in this country or move overseas in order to play in the prestigious tournament.
“I think Arnautovic’s form picked up at the end of the season and we know he was very much linked and agitating almost for a move to China because he was reportedly going to quadruple his wages,” said Magee on Sky Sports News (9;52am, Monday June 17th).
“His form did pick up, he had a bit of mending to do with West Ham supporters but a few goals soon changed that, I think it may be a good opportunity for him to move on as he still may be able to get a move to a Champions League club.
“Whether that be in this country or overseas.”
OPINION
Magee is surely stirring the pot at the London Stadium with this claim about Arnautovic as it’s bound to ruffle a few feathers. Firstly it’s arguable whether the 30-year-old has won back the support of Hammers fans thus far as after appearing to kick up a fuss in January, he did have a lot of making up to do. Arnautovic may have ended his 2018/19 season in style by scoring three goals in his last two league outings of the season, but three goals aren’t enough to earn forgiveness surely? Also Magee seems to not rule out that an English club set to be in the Champions League could be keen on the forward, yet why would they be? Ahead of January, it made sense that a Manchester United or a Chelsea may look at Arnautovic as an option, but they witnessed firsthand him being a nuisance at the London Stadium in the winter window, once the chance of a lucrative move was thought to have emerged. So surely that would put them off considering Arnautovic an option? It seems way more likely that Arnautovic blew his chance of a big move in January with his perceived attitude and as a result he’ll be a Hammers player in his 2019/20 season.
