[ad_pod ]

According to Football League World, West Ham are set to make an offer for West Brom forward Salomon Rondon, amid separate FFC reports claiming Marko Arnautovic wanted the club to facilitate his departure this summer.

What's the deal, then?

It has been reported elsewhere too that the Hammers are hopeful of landing the Venezuelan after Wolves pulled out of the race to sign him.

Newcastle are also heavily interested in the striker given he spent last season on loan at the North East club, scoring 11 Premier League goals in the process.

The 29-year-old has a £16.5m release clause in his contract, however FLW claims West Ham intend to offer a £14m deal that includes defender Sam Byram.

Watch West Ham United Live Streams With StreamFootball.tv Below

Ideal Arnautovic replacement

Arnautovic and the Baggies striker have a similar strike-rate when it comes to goals in the Premier League - with the Austrian registering 43 in 184 games compared with Rondon's 35 in 140.

So when you look at the price the West Ham forward could sell for - Rondon's aforementioned release clause being over £3m lower than the £19.7m offer Manuel Pellegrini's side have already rejected for their 30-year-old forward - financially it makes more sense to go with the Albion man.

On top of that, while Arnautovic's link-up play can't be faulted - his technical ability as a former winger has made him something of a revelation up front - Rondon is more of a traditional target man.

He made three more assists than Arnautovic last season in four more Premier League appearances and won 4.6 aerial duels per game compared to just 0.9. The Venezuelan also assisted Perez alone on six occasions, showing his ability to build great partnerships with those in close proximity.

Given the strength of West Ham's options behind the front man in Manuel Lanzini, Felipe Anderson and recent addition Pablo Fornals, there's an obvious logic in signing a striker who has shown in the Premier League his capacity to readily bring others into play.

That's by no means a weak point of Arnautovic's game - his time at West Ham has produced 12 assists in 65 appearances - but recent evidence suggests Rondon is more proficient at it. Add in similar goal tallies and the fact the West Brom man could realistically be signed for much less than what Arnautovic is sold for, and Rondon has all the makings of an ideal replacement.