OPINION
Getting rid of your top striker is always going to be a gamble but it seems a certainty that Marko Arnautovic will be departing West Ham this summer.
After a January filled with speculation the Austrian eventually stayed in east London but it always appeared to be a temporary stay rather than for the long term.
Filling his boots will be no easy task but with plenty of attacking talent waiting in the wings behind the Irons’ first choice, Manuel Pellegrini will be able to call upon someone with great experience – right?
Perhaps not.
As well as Arnautovic the Sun report that Pellegrini is looking at getting senior attacking duo Lucas Perez and Javier Hernandez off the books at the same time this summer in an exodus of attacking talent and with the future of Andy Carroll also up in the air – the English giant out of contract at the end of the season – there could be no senior options remaining up top from this campaign.
While there is no doubt the Hammers will be looking at splashing the cash on new recruits, there is no guarantee of convincing their top targets to make the move and as such there will be an expectation for the young guns at the London Stadium to make the step up.
First in line behind his experienced teammates is surely 21-year-old Xande Silva and Pellegrini is showing immense faith in the youngster, despite the fans rarely getting a sight of the summer arrival.
Two appearances is nothing to write home about but it is the fact the manager has more experienced options which is stopping his progression into the first team – getting rid of all of them surely means a promotion for the hot prospect.
It is a lot of pressure to throw on his shoulders but it is clearly because Pellegrini believes in his future.