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Men's Football Marko Arnautovic gets his wish and leaves West Ham for China

WEST HAM have announced the sale of want-away striker Marko Arnautovic today for a £22 million move to Chinese Super League Champions Shanghai SIPG.

After attempting to leave the club six months after signing an improved contract with the east Londoners, the Austrian will apparently receive a staggering £280,000 a week while playing in Asia. 

West Ham confirmed Arnautovic’s departure on their website, stating: “West Ham United can confirm that Marko Arnautovic has joined Chinese Super League champions Shanghai SIPG for an undisclosed fee.

“The 30-year-old Austrian departs after two seasons at London Stadium, during which he scored 22 goals in 65 appearances in claret and blue.” 

This is not the only time Arnautovic has attempted to leave the club. 

A similar transfer saga was seen during the January transfer window with Arnautovic again favouring a money-motivated move to China, but the Hammers were reluctant to sell their star striker.

However, Arnautovic once again handed in a transfer request at the start of the month and sources say this was the final straw for the entirety of staff, players and the board of West Ham United who had grown tired of the Austrian and his agent’s, his brother’s, antics.

The 30-year-old managed 11 goals and four assists in all competitions last season but failed to find the back of the net after the start of January. 

West Ham will see the troublesome Austrian’s departure as beneficial, especially if they finally manage to secure the signing of Maxi Gomez from Celta Vigo.

After a long drawn out process between West Ham and the Spanish side, it has been widely reported that the East London side have matched Gomez’s release clause of £44.85m, with other reports claiming West Ham’s main rivals to Gomez’s signing, Valencia, have pulled out of negotiations with the striker.

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