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Football London
Football London
Sport
Sam Inkersole

Ex-West Ham striker Marko Arnautovic gets new club career off to a flier

West Ham sold striker Marko Arnautovic to Chinese Super League side Shanghai SIPG earlier this summer for £25m and the Austrian frontman has been enjoying his spell in the Far East so far.

Arnautovic has made three appearances for his new side so nd has scored in two of those outings, on his debut against Chonqing Lifan and also netted against Wuhan Zall on Sunday in the CSL.

The striker made his first start against Wuhan on Sunday having been on the bench against Chonqing and also for the Chinese FA Cup win over Guangzhou Evergrande a week ago.

Shanghai have a fearsome frontline of Arnautovic and Brazilian's Hulk and Oscar and are currently second in the CSL table behind the team they beat in the cup on Sunday.

Against Wuhan, Arnautovic levelled the scores on 22 minutes, slotting past keeper Dong Hengyi after Liu Yun had put the home side into a fourth-minute lead.

Former West Ham striker Marko Arnautovic (Marc Atkins/Getty Images)

The former Hammers frontman's first goal for his new club came on his debut against Chonqing, putting the visitors into a 2-1 lead after coming on as a half time substitute.

West Ham eventually bit the bullet and sold Arnautovic to SIPG for £25m, getting all the money up front and the Austrian is earning more than £200,000 a week in wages in the Far East, tax free.

The striker tried to depart the Hammers back in January to move to China but the switch was blocked by the club, who then handed him a new contract extension with a pay-rise. But after the interest flared up again this summer, the club decided enough was enough and they cashed in on the talented but temperamental striker.

The Hammers have since replaced him with club-record signing Sebastien Haller, who the club signed for £40m from Eintrach Frankfurt with the Frenchman making his debut in the 1-0 friendly win over Fulham on Saturday.

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