Marko Arnautović heads to West Ham in club record move

After two rejected bids the third time was the charm for West Ham United. Multiple sources have confirmed West Ham have signed winger Marko Arnautović for a club record in the region of £24 million. The former Stoke City man will meet-up with the Hammers in Germany for their pre-season training.

At Stoke, Arnautović scored 22 goals in 125 appearances in all competitions. The Potters are set to make around £20 million on the winger who originally signed for Stoke in 2013 for £2 million from Werder Bremen. Prior to that he spent four years at FC Twente with a short loan to Inter Milan in 2009-2010.

The Austrian winger can play both forward and in the midfield but prefers to be a left winger. This suits West Ham very well as they currently have a plethora of wingers but all of whom prefer to play on the right side.

Arnautović will bring size and pace to the left which should complement Michail Antonio over on the right. Standing 6’3” he’ll also add another large body to an already threatening aerial squad. I can already see Manuel Lanzini whipping in corners and free kicks sending defenses scrambling to mark Arnie, Michail Antonio, Andy Carroll, Kouyate, Winston Reid, Jose Fonte, James Collins, and Pedro Obiang.

Stoke City drove a hard bargain with manager Mark Hughes reluctant to sell the talented Arnautović. However, the deal seemed to be sealed when Arnautovic handed in a transfer request to leave Stoke.

The only downside of this move it that it could put the kibosh on the Keita Baldé Diao deal. West Ham apparently have an accepted bid for the Senegal player who prefers to play left winger.

Check back later for Brace the Hammer writers reactions to the Irons latest signing of the window.

WELCOME TO WEST HAM UNITED MARKO!