Stoke City’s Marko Arnautovic turned down Everton in 2016 to stay at the Potteries but is determined to leave 12 months on.
You wonder whether Marko Arnautovic regrets turning down the chance to swap Stoke City for Everton last summer. According to The Sun, the Austrian winger had been publically contacted by Toffees boss Ronald Koeman in 2016 and, with just a year remaining on his contact, would have been available for as little as £12.5 million.
However, Arnautovic was not shy in admitting publically that he rejected the chance to join the Goodison Park revolution.
Stoke City’s Marko Arnautovic netted six Premier League goals last season
“Ronald Koeman tried to persuade me to move to Everton. Romelu Lukaku also phoned me to ask if I would join them, and I found that a great honour,” the former Werder Bremen attacker said in quotes reported by The Sun. “But nonetheless I rang (Stoke boss) Mark Hughes and told him: ‘Get the paperwork ready – I’ll extend my stay with Stoke.’
“They had put a lot of faith in me and my career took off with them. I thought to myself – it’s a place where everything suits me, so why not stay put?”
However, a year is a long time in football and it appears that Arnautovic’s mind set has now changed completely.
Sky Sports reported last week that the 28-year-old had handed in a transfer request after growing frustrated with Stoke’s perceived lack of ambition. And the Daily Mail report that Arnautovic, who West Ham are desperate to sign, will cost potential suitors £22.5 million.
Everton have spent big to fulfil their ambitions of breaking into the Champions League next season but it appears that Arnautovic’s opportunity to wear the famous royal blue may have passed him by.
While West Ham endured a disappointing 2016/17 season, even flirting with relegation, Everton enjoyed a hugely promising campaign and look to be going places and fast at Goodison. However, it is fair to say most supporters are not pleading with the club to renew their interest in the wantaway Arnautovic.
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