West Ham United have seen a £15m bid rejected by Stoke City for Marko Arnautovic, prompting the 28-year-old to hand in a transfer request, according to the Telegraph.
The Potters do not intend to sell their talisman, but the Hammers are set to return with an improved offer of around £20 million.
It is reported that the Austrian attacker met with Mark Hughes to discuss his future, where he made his intentions clear that he wanted to ply his trade elsewhere.
West Ham chairman David Gold has earmarked Arnautovic as a main target this summer, with wide forwards and centre forwards at the top of his agenda.
Arnautovic, who has three years left on his current Stoke deal, scored seven goals in 35 appearances for the Premier League outfit last season.
The Hammers are also reportedly interested in the £12m signing of Bayer Leverkusen hitman Javier Hernandez, formerly of Manchester United, as they look to create a new partnership in a reformed attacking front line.
However, wages could be an issue in this deal, as Hernandez is said to be earning £125,000-a-week at the Bundesliga side.
