West Ham United could raid Premier League rivals Chelsea if Marko Arnautovic leaves.
West Ham United have stood firm on the future of Marko Arnautovic for now, but it seems they are preparing for life without their talismanic centre-forward.
According to the Mail, the Austrian international told the Hammers last week that he wants to leave in order to seal a money-spinning move to the Chinese Super League. An as-yet unnamed CSL club have offered the London club £36 million for Arnautovic, who will be handed a £200,000-a-week contract.
But it is not just Bournemouth’s Callum Wilson who West Ham have identified as a potential replacement (Sky Sports).
Latest claims today from the Mail add that Manuel Pellegrini’s side could make a shock move for Chelsea duo Olivier Giroud and Alvaro Morata.
The Frenchman and the Spaniard are both out of favour at Stamford Bridge with Maurizio Sarri often preferring Eden Hazard in a ‘false nine’ role.
Giroud is out of contract in the summer and could be available for a cut-price fee, while Morata is expected to leave this month, having been left out of the 2-1 weekend win against Newcastle United.
Morata moved to Chelsea for a massive £58 million from Real Madrid in 2017, though West Ham would need the Blues to accept a reduced fee if a move is at all possible.
The Mail adds that West Ham sent scouts to watch Genoa’s prolific Poland international Krzysztof Piatek at the weekend. The 23-year-old has been a revelation in Italy, scoring 19 goals in just 21 games.
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