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West Ham are braced for a second bid from China for Marko Arnautovic, per The Times.
The Hammers rejected an offer from Shanghai SIPG last week, but the Chinese Super League club are determined to sign the striker.
What's the word?
His brother, who also acts as his agent, subsequently issued a statement calling on the club to allow his sibling to leave for China, with Shanghai SIPG keen to extricate the Austrian from the London Stadium.
The Times now report that a second bid is in the pipeline, worth £45m, for Arnautovic.
There is a belief amongst players at the club, according to the report, that Arnautovic is desperate to leave.
Indeed, he waved at supporters following his substitution in the 1-0 win over Arsenal on Saturday, with many pundits claiming that he was saying his goodbyes.
As quoted in the aforementioned report, Michail Antonio spoke on Goals on Sunday on Sky Sports, claiming that "everyone knows Marko wants to go", with players seemingly resigned to losing a player who has scored eight goals in all competitions thus far this season.
Understandable desire to go
Arnautovic should take the money and run.
Of course, West Ham want to receive the best price possible for a player who cost them £20m in 2017, but there is a clear reason for Arnautovic wanting to move on, and his wish should be respected.
At the age of 29, he is approaching the end of his top-level career and a move to China would see him potentially earn £300,000-per-week, according to the Daily Mail.
Despite previously being linked with the likes of Manchester United, Arnautovic does not quite have the required talent to step up to the level of the Old Trafford, despite occasionally being a match-winner for the Irons.
Check out the video below to see Pl>ymaker FC's American Soccer Fan give his take on all six 'field goals' in West Ham v Burnley...
He appears to have played his cards perfectly; his team-mates are aware that he is nearing the exit door, and a move now seems something of an inevitability.
One thing that cannot be argued against, though, is that it will be Arnautovic who ends up with the best end of the deal.
While he heads to China on a wage worth £15.6m-per-year, the Irons will be left scrambling for a replacement. Ultimately, though, that isn't the Austrian's fault at all.