Report: Chelsea turn attention to West Ham’s Marko Arnautovic after Andy Carroll deal collapsed

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Premier League champions Chelsea have already attempted to sign one West Ham attacker this month and now want Arnautovic at Stamford Bridge.

It has been a funny old January for Chelsea.

While Manchesters United and City went head-to-head for Alexis Sanchez, Liverpool smashed a world-record to bring in Virgil van Dijk and Arsenal are being relentlessly linked with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, it is fair to say many of Chelsea’s targets are a little lacking in star quality.

Ashley Barnes, Peter Crouch and Andy Carroll are among the eye-catching names linked with a switch to Stamford Bridge which simply reeks of desperation.

Although ESPN at least reports that one of the Premier League’s in-form attackers is also on the reigning champions’ radar.

Marko Arnautovic took a while to get going after making his club-record £25 million move to West Ham from Stoke City but has now scored six and set up three in his last eight Premier League games under David Moyes.

But Chelsea are hoping to tempt the Austrian into an exit just six months into his West Ham career. Blues boss Antonio Conte wants a targetman and believes the powerful and aggressive Arnautovic, who has been remodelled as a centre-forward in recent weeks, fits the bill.

Though while West Ham seemed open to the prospect of Carroll leaving for Stamford Bridge so long as they received a decent transfer fee, it seems unlikely that they will entertain any offers for Arnautovic.

While Carroll has only two league goals in another season littered with injuries and suspension, Arnautovic has been West Ham’s best player in the last two months and Moyes would be loath to see him go.