talkSPORT has claimed that Marko Arnautovic is set to have a medical in London on Friday afternoon ahead of his move to Chinese club Shanghai SIPG.
This comes after the forward had said he wanted to move this summer, despite signing a new contract in January.
talkSPORT made the claim on its Twitter page on Friday lunchtime.
Arnautovic will become the third striker to leave the Hammers this summer, after Andy Carroll and Lucas Perez.
Exclusive: Marko Arnautovi? is set for a medical ahead of his move to China. ?? pic.twitter.com/guQsF3imJE
— talkSPORT (@talkSPORT) July 5, 2019
VERDICT
The sooner West Ham can get Arnautovic off their books the better. Pellegrini is said to be furious with the player but this behaviour is par for the course. He asked for a transfer from Stoke, which is how he ended up at West Ham, and he asked for a move from the Hammers in January. Arnautovic’s quest is to chase the money and that’s his right as a player. But it doesn’t treat the people paying his wages with any respect and it’s not leaving him with any fans in east London. Supporters often want clubs to take a hard line with players and not bow down to transfer requests. However, as has been shown here, it’s not always advisable to keep a player who has his heart set on a move, and West Ham have lost a big chunk of money on Arnautovic after they reportedly rejected a £35million bid for him in January. One thing is certain: West Ham need at least one new striker this summer now, after Arnautovic joins Carroll and Perez in leaving the Hammers. And the Premier League season kicks off in exactly one month.