Marko Arnautovic may leave West Ham to pursue Champions League dream

Marko Arnautovic has admitted he is ready to leave West Ham to play in the Champions League, with the Austria forward determined to compete at the highest level possible before his career is over.

Arnautovic, who moved to east London in the summer of 2017 from Stoke for a then club record fee worth up to £25m, has been in outstanding form since being handed a more central role by former manager David Moyes last season, and scored 11 Premier League goals last term. He has continued to impress this season having already found the net five times in 10 matches despite West Ham’s early struggles under Manuel Pellegrini.

But while he has previously insisted he is happy at West Ham, Arnautovic – who is represented by his brother Danijel – has acknowledged that he may never have a better chance of securing a move to one of Europe’s top clubs.

“I’m 29, so that’s the best age,” he told the Austrian newspaper Kurier. “It’s clear that I want to compete with the best players. But in this affair I totally trust my brother.”

Manchester United were linked with a move for Arnautovic in the summer but West Ham were unwilling to sell a player they consider to be a crucial member of the team. However, his brother’s words will be of great concern to the club’s hierarchy as they attempt to build a side capable of challenging at the top end of the Premier League.

“He’s already playing in the Premier League and that’s where the best players are. But for a player like Marko this cannot be the end,” said Danijel Arnautovic.

“He’s a big part of West Ham’s team but I think it’s possible to tease out more of him. For that to happen, he has to play for a top team. Marko is ready for the next step. A player like him should not play against relegation. He should play for the international spots.

“Marko is really enjoying playing for West Ham. He loves that club and the fans. But there is still that feeling, that this cannot be the end. And everybody should understand that.”

Asked if it was possible Arnautovic could leave soon, his brother added: “That’s possible. It was already very, very close this last summer.”

Meanwhile, West Ham are still hopeful of signing Samir Nasri despite concerns over the France international’s fitness. Pellegrini is understood to be in favour of handing the 31-year-old a deal until the end of the season with an option to extend his stay. Nasri is not eligible to play until 1 January because of a doping ban.