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As reported by various sources, including The Telegraph, West Ham have rejected a £35million bid for Marko Arnautovic from an unnamed Chinese club.
Football FanCast has learned through exclusive sources that the bid was considered derisory by the Irons, who paid the same amount to sign Felipe Anderson last summer and would expect at least double the current offered fee if they were to agree a transfer.
What's the word?
FFC has confirmed that the bid is genuine, though the interested party has not been named, however the club had no intention of accepting the offer.
Indeed, the Irons signed Felipe Anderson for £36m in the summer, with one source at the club describing that deal as a "risk".
As such, there is a belief that the offer for Arnautovic was derisory, particularly in the current transfer market climate.
The club would expect at least double what was offered if they were to consider a sale, though they remain reticent to allow the player to leave in January at all.
Of course, Bayern Munich have, per Sky Sports, made a bid worth £35m for Chelsea teenager Callum Hudson-Odoi, who has made just one Premier League appearance.
The 29-year-old has enjoyed a prolific season at the London Stadium thus far this season, scoring eight goals and providing two assists.
Anderson deal the precedent
Manuel Pellegrini, who moved to West Ham from the Chinese Super League after two years with Hebei China Fortune, sanctioned the move for Anderson in the summer.
Viewed as something of a wildcard signing, the club have invested a massive amount in the Brazilian.
FFC understands that, on top of a £36m transfer fee, the Irons also added up to £5m in bonuses and £4.5m on agent fees, taking the total to almost £46m.
Add in his £100,000-per-week wages - which are also incentivised and could rise to £140,000 - and the commitment the Hammers have made comes to around £75m.
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It is thus unsurprising that there is little desire to send Arnautovic packing among those in the corridors at the London Stadium.
Of course, the wages on offer in China may well see the Austria international's head turned, but there will have to be a significantly higher bid tabled if a club wishes to negotiate terms.
Arnautovic recently recovered from a hamstring injury, and will next be in action against Arsenal this weekend.