MX23RW : Friday, January 25 06:43:58

Pellegrini in the dark over Arnautovic future

Pellegrini in the dark over Arnautovic future
© Reuters
The striker made it clear he wants to leave the Premier League.

West Ham boss Manuel Pellegrini does not know whether wantaway striker Marko Arnautovic has played his last game for the club.

Arnautovic did not travel with the Hammers for last weekend’s defeat at Bournemouth after revealing he wants a big-money move to China.

West Ham have turned down an initial bid of £35million from Shanghai SIPG and maintain they do not want to lose their joint top-scorer.

Pellegrini wants to keep the Austrian, at least until the summer, but will agree to the sale this month if his price tag is met.

Yet despite the speculation, Arnautovic remains at the club and has trained with his team-mates all week.

West Ham head to AFC Wimbledon on Saturday in the FA Cup fourth round, but Pellegrini is undecided about whether to include the 29-year-old in the squad.

“On Friday, we will see the names of the players in the squad list,” he said.

“Marko is working with us without any problems. It is impossible for me to know the future.

“Is it a distraction? As a manager, I am worried about many different issues in my squad.

“Things happen in football and we know we must try to resolve this as soon as we can.

“I am speaking with all of the players every day, so I know what they want.”

There was a rare piece of good news from the West Ham treatment room on Friday with the news Manuel Lanzini is ahead of schedule in his recovery from a serious knee injury.

Lanzini had surgery on his right knee in June after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament while training with Argentina prior to the World Cup.

But just six months later the midfielder has joined up with his team-mates for light training.

“Lanzini is working part of the warm-up with the squad but the important thing is that he feels good,” added Pellegrini.

Right-back Ryan Fredericks will make his comeback at Kingsmeadow after three months out with a calf injury.

But Jack Wilshere, Fabian Balbuena, Andriy Yarmolenko, Winston Reid and Carlos Sanchez are still on the long-term injury list.


Click here for more stories about Manuel Pellegrini

Click here for more stories about West Ham United

Share this article now:

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

Select and display your favourite team's news and scores in this panel

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

Select and display your favourite team's news and scores in this panel
Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool23193154134160
2Manchester CityMan City23182362174556
3Tottenham HotspurSpurs23170648232551
4Chelsea23145440192147
5Arsenal23135548321644
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd23135546331344
7Watford239683232033
8Wolverhampton WanderersWolves239592731-432
9Leicester CityLeicester2394102929031
10West Ham UnitedWest Ham2394103034-431
11Everton238693433130
12Bournemouth2393113342-930
13Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton2375112532-726
14Crystal Palace2364132332-922
15Southampton2357112540-1522
16Burnley2364132343-2022
17Newcastle UnitedNewcastle2356121931-1221
18Cardiff CityCardiff2354141944-2519
19Fulham2335152151-3014
20Huddersfield TownHuddersfield2325161340-2711

Subscribe to our Newsletter


Transfer Talk Daily
Match previews - twice weekly
Morning Briefing (7am UTC)
Ultra close-up image of Kevin De Bruyne [NOT FOR USE IN ARTICLES]Get the latest transfer news, match previews and news direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

Select and display your favourite team's news and scores in this panel
Login, I already have my ad-free pass
Log in to customise Sports Mole
Buy ad-free access (show me the options)
Buy monthly ad-free access for £1.20/month
Buy yearly ad-free access for £12 (2 months free)
Settings - Logout - Manage your account
Settings - Logout - Manage your account