Marko Arnautovic hands in transfer request to West Ham

News has just broken that Marko Arnautovic has handed in a transfer request to move from West Ham to a Chinese Super League team. This news comes after a tumultuous January where the player tried to force a similar move away from the Hammers. What is next in this never-ending transfer saga?

With the illusion of trophies now gone, Marko Arnautovic’s transfer request to China is all for chasing a big payday. According to Sky Sports News, an unnamed Chinese club has again come in for Arnautovic with a bid that would have to exceed the declined £35m offered received in January.

With Arnautovic signing a new contract in January with the club, one laden with performance bonuses to increase his pay, a transfer release clause was also added believed to be in the region of £45m. This is key, as Stoke have a sell on bonus currently on Arnautovic, and anything less than £40m for his sale should be deemed as bad business for the club.

Now, Arnautovic’s brother/agent talked to media outlets earlier in June suggesting the player (Arnautovic) has a contract at West Ham and is happy at the club. He also mentioned that the allure of Champions League football is attractive to him and that playing in that tournament is a goal of the players eventually.

Could this have been a ploy by the agent to endear West Ham fans to the player even further before this possibly inevitable Chinese bid was to come in? Or, was this a move to motivate Chinese clubs who want Arnautovic’s services to come in for him before a Champions League club steal him away?

Regardless, the media storm and uncertainty around Arnautovic are no longer welcome at West Ham in my opinion. The player has caused enough distraction to derail the club last season, and now as training camp is underway the player again (who isn’t even with the team) is causing more of a stir. Yet again we see these rumors emerge and yet again we see nothing from the player to address them.

Time is up, Arnautovic. Please go off to China to get the payday you apparently so desperately need, and allow West Ham to grow in your wake. Ironically, Aleksandar Mitrovic is still available on transfer from Fulham and would be a great replacement for this wantaway player.