West Ham are unlikely to sign Marko Arnautovic on loan from Shanghai SIPG this month, according to Sky Sports.
The Austrian left the Hammers on bad terms in 2019 after pushing for a lucrative move to China. He had been regarded as one of the club’s best players and had established himself as a consistent scorer for the East London side.
The report claimed that West Ham were willing to allow the 31-year-old to return to the London Stadium. However, the biggest sticking point is his £175,000 per week wages.
Arnautovic joined West Ham after Stoke City’s relegation from the Premier League in 2017. He went on to score 21 Premier League goals for the Hammers in 59 appearances.
Since moving to China, the Austrian international has continued his prolific goal scoring form at both international and club level.
He managed six goals from eight appearances for Austria in 2019 and has scored 16 goals from 29 appearances for Shanghai SIPG.
Fans will likely agree with the board and their stance regarding this deal. The Hammers currently have a settled dressing room, and the arrival of the controversial Austrian could cause friction.
