Premier League strugglers Everton may have been handed a boost in their pursuit of a centre-forward with Marko Arnautovic facing a summer departure from Serie A outfit Bologna, as reported by Tuttomercatoweb.
When it comes to the firebrand frontman, the rough must always be balanced against the smooth. Arnautovic, as supporters of West Ham and Stoke City will tell you, is just as capable of producing outstanding individual performances as is he to self-destruct just when the sun appears to be shining in a spotless sky.
But, with the disciplinarian Thiago Motta in charge at Bologna these days, Arnautovic’s more combustible characteristics were never likely to be greeted with an arm around the shoulder. Motta froze out star striker Mbala Nzola at Spezia.
And it seems as if history is repeating itself; Arnautovic on the bench for the second game in a row during Bologna’s 0-0 draw with Lazio over the weekend.
“You focus on him. But I think about what the others are giving me,” Motta told Tuttomercatoweb when quizzed about Arnautovic’s absence; the former Barcelona midfielder refusing to be drawn on the Austrian’s latest saga.
“I want to talk about the beautiful and positive things we saw on the pitch today.”
Everton like Bologna striker Marko Arnautovic
Everton, per Tuttomercatoweb, held talks with Arnautovic in January after installing the 33-year-old as their number one attacking target.
But while the striker’s long and winding history when it comes to high-profile fall-outs may have some at Goodison Park running for the hills, Arnautovic’s ruthless finishing ability and top-quality technique means the one-time Manchester United target is still likely to have plenty of admirers. That is presuming Motta does indeed push him out the door.
Everton’s desperation for a high-class number nine may have the Toffees taking a punt on a man who, in the right environment, can be a talismanic presence.
Arnautovic has eight goals in 14 league starts this term. That comes off the back of 14 in 32 starts across 2021/22. Former Bologna defender Renato Villa, meanwhile, feels that there ain’t room in this town for the both of them; TMW adding that the Rossoblu bosses are siding with Motta over their top scorer.
“I hope this relationship can be repaired,” Villa tells Il Resto del Carlino. “Because this Bologna needs the Arnautovic that we all know. Right now, he would be the icing on the cake of a team that Thiago is making play well.”
Everton have scored just 20 goals in 27 Premier League games this season. Only Wolves have found the net so infrequently. Then again, just the one was enough to see off Brentford on Saturday; Dwight McNeil’s searing first mninute striker sealing three vital points.
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