Manuel Pellegrini has been forced into a major selection U-turn ahead of West Ham’s Premier League clash against Bournemouth tomorrow (Friday), according to a reliable journalist.
TalkSPORT head Lee Clayton reported on his personal Twitter account at lunchtime today that Marko Arnautovic has been omitted from the Hammers squad for the trip to the south coast.
Clayton explained that the Austrian forward had not been a part of “pattern-of-play training” today but Pellegrini had intended to name him on the substitute’s bench.
BREAKING: Marko Arnautovic out of West Ham squad to face Bournemouth tomorrow. He had not been part of pattern-of-play training, but was due to be on the bench. Won't happen now. More on @talkSPORT
— Lee Clayton (@LeeClayton_) January 18, 2019
OPINION
Ex-Daily Mail sports editor Clayton has been leading the way on the Arnautovic developments and you can bet that he will be spot on with his update, given the rumours about who his long-standing contacts are at West Ham. Even while Pellegrini had axed Arnautovic from his starting XI, it is hugely disruptive that the manager cannot even name the striker as a bench weapon that would really frighten Bournemouth. The striker is clearly doing his best behind the scenes to engineer an exit, whether than is to China (some reports have stated the Shanghai deal has collapsed), or far closer to home. West Ham are within their rights to pull up the drawbridge, dig their heels in and refuse to sell their prize asset, especially if their asking price is not met for a player they are said to value at £50million. That said, West Ham have a history of buckling when pound notes are being waved under the board’s noses. Expect Arnautovic to eventually get his way, after an unseemly mess.