Three replacements for West Ham star Marko Arnautovic

Marko Arnautovic has been subject to a bid from the Chinese Super League (via the Sun). With tensions running high in the West Ham camp, there is a chance he might consider it.

The Hammers spent heavily over the summer to add around Arnautovic. However, only a few players have flourished as the club sit 9th in the Premier League, ten points behind Manchester United.

While a win over the weekend against Arsenal did calm nerves, Arnautovic’s future is still in flux and the Hammers need replacements. Javier Hernandez has been struggling to find the back of the net on a consistent basis and things could get complicated if they lose the Austrian forward.

That said, here are three affordable options for the London Stadium side to replace the 29-year-old golden boy.

#3 Michy Batshuayi

When he first arrived at Chelsea, Batshuayi was expected to be the Blues’ next big thing but beyond social media, the 25-year-old has struggled to do much. While a loan spell at Borussia Dortmund did show his ability in front of the goal, the Belgian has failed to make a mark at Chelsea. With the January window open, it’s his chance to make a move.

For West Ham, there are a few players available as affordable as Batshuayi and if anyone can get the best out of the Belgian striker,  it’s Manuel Pellegrini. However, with Monaco – and even Everton – interested in a move for the 25-year-old, things could get complicated.

#2 Callum Wilson

The Bournemouth star is having the season of his life and it’s no surprise that West Ham want him to replace Arnautovic (h/t Guardian). While the 25-year-old will flourish under Manuel Pellegrini, things could get complicated with the transfer fee and interest stemming from Chelsea.

The Guardian has reported that the Cherries are asking around £75million for their star striker and given Chelsea’s budget, it’s more than feasible for the Blues. The 25-year-old has contributed to 16 goals in all competitions in just 23 appearances. This combined with his work rate makes him a valuable option.

But for West Ham, £75million might just put the Bournemouth man out of their reach. While Arnautovic should fetch somewhere around £50million, it doesn’t make sense splashing it all out on one single star.

#1 Kevin Volland

The former Hoffenheim star finished last season with 15 goals in all competitions for Bayer Leverkusen and stepped out of former Leverkusen star Javier Hernandez’s shadow. The Mexican left the club for the Premier League and all the onus of finding the net fell upon Volland’s shoulders, which the German took in his stride.

This season has seen things change with the Bundesliga side adding a few new stars to their stable but Volland has still managed to shine.

The 26-year-old has made 17 appearances in the German top flight, scoring 6 goals and adding another two assists. He’s on par with Marko Arnautovic and like the Austrian; Volland’s style of play is very similar.

This makes the transition for both the striker and the club very easy. Like Arnautovic, the German international was also a winger before shifting more centrally. However, while the 29-year-old has stopped playing on the wing, Volland’s versatility allows him to shift across the front line and still flourish.