Marko Arnautovic has underlined his importance to West Ham United in recent days.
Matt Le Tissier has suggested on Sky Sports’ Soccer Saturday program [broadcast 05/01/2019] that he wouldn’t be surprised if West Ham United lost in-form Marko Arnautovic this month.
Arnautovic opened the scoring after two minutes of West Ham’s 2-0 FA Cup win over Birmingham in East London this afternoon.
In doing so, the Austrian star made it three goals in a week after scoring twice as the Hammers came from behind to draw 2-2 with Watford on Wednesday.
There were murmurs about the 28-year-old’s West Ham future earlier in the season, when his agent claimed that the former Stoke star was ready to test himself at a higher level.
And Le Tissier admitted to Sky Sports’ Soccer Saturday program [broadcast 05/01/2019] that a winter exit wouldn’t surprise him.
Le Tissier said: “He’s been out for a couple of weeks so I’m guessing the West Ham manager wants to get some minutes under his belt.
“This boy is a real talisman for them – two down against Brighton and you thought that might game, set and match but Arnautovic was having none of it and got them back into the game single handed.
“He has done that at times, I think he’s phenomenal. I think West Ham would do well to keep hold of Arnautovic in January.”
Arnautovic is a massively important player to Manuel Pellegrini’s side and the prospect of losing him would terrify fans of the London side.
They can replace him in the squad but can they replace his goals? Yes, they will get a good bit of money for him if it comes to that, but that is by no means a guarantee that they’ll find another goalscorer like the big man.
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