West Ham can’t afford costly Marko Arnautovic deal – report
West Ham have decided against re-signing Marko Arnautovic because a deal would be too expensive, according to the Daily Mail.
Arnautovic was recently linked with a move back to the club where he spent two seasons at between 2017-19, scoring 22 goals in 65 appearances.
Any move was likely to prove divisive among fans and staff after the acrimonious departure of the former fan-favourite to Chinese side Shanghai SIPG in July 2019.
With Michail Antonio’s injury woes restricting him to just seven starts this season, and Sebastien Haller’s poor form in front of goal evident in his record of three goals in 16 Premier League appearances, manager David Moyes was reportedly considering bringing Arnautovic back to the club.
A more dynamic forward option closer to the Antonio mould than Haller, the Austrian could have offered Moyes an interesting alternative, but the Daily Mail have shut down the interest by claiming West Ham have considered him to be too expensive with a post-tax salary of £5.1million a year.
At 31-years-old it looks unlikely that the club will ever go back for Arnautovic again and so his chances of a Premier League return diminish further.
Failure to fire may force Hammers into the market
A deal for Arnautovic always seemed far-fetched but it does not quell the notion that West Ham need reinforcements in the attacking areas.
Antonio has recently returned for the Hammers after making substitute cameos against Southampton (December 29) and Everton (January 1) but he can not be relied upon to remain fit for the duration of the season.
Given the aforementioned travails of Haller in front of goal, West Ham would be minded to keep scouring the market to find more forward options.
They have drawn a blank in two of their last four games and have scored three times in that run.
No team in the top 10 of the Premier League has scored fewer than West Ham’s 24 goals while Leeds United have scored six more times despite sitting three points and two places below them.
Finances might be tight for Moyes and he has other areas, notably depth in midfield, that he has to consider, but if they are to push on and achieve a high finish this season then striking a deal for a forward might be in their best interests.
In other West Ham news, Hammers may recall record signing from disappointing loan spell.