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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Sport

West Ham to make decision on Marko Arnautovic after identifying Maxi Gomez as a possible replacement

West Ham manager Manuel Pellegrini will decide whether Marko Arnautovic is in the right frame of mind to start against Bournemouth.

Arnautovic has expressed his desire to move to China and but the 29-year-old is available to play despite the uncertainty around his future.

He trained with the rest of the West Ham squad today and Pellegrini will decide if starting him is best for the team as they search for a win that could take them up to seventh.

Shanghai SIPG have had a £35miliion bid rejected for Arnautovic and he could earn £300,000 a week at the Chinese Super League champions.

Pellegrini has admitted the uncertainty has not helped his preparations for the Bournemouth game but he has no concerns that Arnautovic will refuse to play, like the situation at West Ham two years ago when Dimitri Payet forced through a move to Marseille.

Transfer window news and rumours, Friday 18th January

Pellegrini, who also coached in China for Hebei China Fortune, does not want to sell Arnautovic but he will not stop the Austrian leaving if the right offer comes in. West Ham will demand up to £50m.

Photo: EPA/Enric Fontcuberta

West Ham have identified Maxi Gomez a possible replacement for Arnautovic but they could face competition from AC Milan for the 22-year-old, who Celta Vigo value at £50m.

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