Manchester United had been liked with a move for West Ham forward Marko Arnautovic over the summer, as per The Express, and the player has now suggested he will consider leaving his current club.
The January transfer window opens in a matter of weeks and it looks like there will be plenty of speculation surrounding Arnautovic.
With Romelu Lukaku’s struggles up front this season and Alexis Sanchez wanting to quit United, as reported by the Evening Standard, Jose Mourinho may have to convince Ed Woodward that he needs another striker.
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It remains to be seen whether Anthony Martial or Marcus Rashford will make the full transition into the centre-forward role, though as things stand they are preferred by the manager in wider positions.
Arnautovic, 29, believes he is at his best age to make that big move and prove himself.
“I’m 29, so that’s the best age,” the West Ham attacker told Austrian newspaper Kurier.
“It’s clear that I want to compete with the best players. But in this affair I totally trust my brother.”
Arnautovic’s brother, Danijel, who also acts as his agent, suggests he could leave West Ham soon in a bid to reach new heights.
“He’s a big part of West Ham’s team but I think it’s possible to tease out more of him. For that to happen, he has to play for a top team,” he said.
“Marko is ready for the next step. A player like him should not play against relegation. He should play for the international spots.
“Marko is really enjoying playing for West Ham. He loves that club and the fans. But there is still that feeling that this cannot be the end. And everybody should understand that.”
Whether or not Arnautovic loves playing for West Ham, as suggested, none of these comments are likely to go down well with Hammers.
He’s not good enough to be a starter at United, but we could definitely do with a player of his ability on the bench.
Mourinho knows Arnautovic better than most from their brief time working together at Inter Milan, so it’s worth watching out to see if United approach West Ham for their wantaway talisman.
