Marko Arnautović has been left out of West Ham’s squad to face Bournemouth tomorrow after Guangzhou Evergrande opened talks with the club over a prospective deal for the forward, according to Sky Sports News.
The Hammers had already received a sizeable offer for the Austrian forward from an unnamed Chinese club earlier this month, believed to be from Shanghai SIPG, the offer of which was rejected by the club.
The Austria international has made no secret that he wants to move to China, with his brother agent Danijel making his ambitions clear.
Now the 29-year old has been left out of West Ham’s squad to face the Cherries at Dean Court, with manager Manuel Pellegrini feeling that the former Stoke man isn’t in the right frame of mind to play.
West Ham have previously stated that their star man is strictly not for sale, but we reported claims yesterday that the club’s Chilean coach that he is in the position to make the judgement call over whether Arnautović will be forced to remain at the London Stadium.
Regardless of whether he stays, West Ham will hope that they will have enough firepower to combat Bournemouth’s attack on Saturday, with the South Coast side’s star man Callum Wilson set to undergo a late fitness test.
