West Ham have agreed a deal worth £45million for Marko Arnautovic with Shanghai SIPG – but the transfer has stalled.
Arnautovic’s agents had insisted to West Ham a deal was on the table earlier this month – but only in the last week has a deal been negotiated between Shanghai and The Hammers.
However, issues have arisen as West Ham have a problem with a number of things including agents fees, whilst the move is also complicated by the fact Stoke City are owed a percentage of the deal. The deal has now hit the rocks, and as it stands is not going ahead.
But Arnautovic himself is far from pleased that the move has hit an impasse with personal terms of over £220,00-a-week all but agreed.
Guangzhou Evergrande have also come in with a bid of close to £40million – and Arnautovic is open to his destination, as long as they meet his demands.
Hammers boss Manuel Pellegrini admits the club is open to a deal and said: “They are not forcing me to sell Marko Arnautovic. But I think as a manager the best thing is to take the solution that is best for the player and the club, both together.
“I am not telling the club about it. If it’s a good deal for both parties we will arrange to be without Marko. But the club doesn’t want to sell him. If they agree, we don’t have any problem to change.”
It now remains to be seen if the deal can be resurrected, or if the Austrian will return to action in the short-term with West Ham as he is reported to have told them he isn’t willing to play for them again.
Bookmakers clearly feel a deal is up for grabs as they make him 3/10 to move to China.
Spokesman Paddy Power said: “Marko Arnautovic is now odds-on to head to China this window, and follow in the footsteps of many Premier League greats such as, er, Oscar.
“I mean, he’s basically completely destroyed his chances at West Ham, so now is probably the prime time to take the cash and go.”