Why West Ham re-signing Marko Arnautovic on loan would make sense
According to The Mirror (January 3; Page 72), West Ham are weighing up the possibility of re-signing former striker Marko Arnautovic on loan from Chinese outfit Shanghai SIPG in January.
The Austrian international enjoyed his most productive campaign in East London during David Moyes’ first managerial stint with the Hammers. Arnautovic bagged an impressive 11 goals and 6 assists in the Premier League back in the 2017-18 campaign and Moyes is prepared to offer the 31-year-old a return to the English capital.
The report states that the Hammers are willing to bring the forward back to the club on loan, with the Chinese season having ended in November. However, West Ham would need to sign either Said Benrahma or Craig Dawson permanently as they can’t afford to have three loanees, going by the new regulations.
Arnautovic initially moved to England with Stoke City in the summer of 2013 and went on to register 26 goals and 32 assists in all competitions for the Potters over four seasons. The Austrian eventually switched boats to join top-flight rivals, West Ham, in 2017 and hit double digits in the goals column in each of his two seasons at the London Stadium, scoring 22 times in 65 appearances.
Goals have continued to flow for the veteran following his move to the Chinese Super League. Arnautovic has racked up 17 goals in 35 appearances for Shanghai SIPG in all competitions so far. His impressive returns have ensured that he continues to be selected for the national team on a regular basis, despite plying his trade outside Europe.
Putting things into perspective, West Ham offering Mark Arnautovic a route back to the Premier League would make perfect sense. The veteran knows all about scoring goals and making assists at this level, having spent six seasons in the English top-flight earlier in his career.
The Austrian wasn’t among the most consistent strikers in the PL but his quality as a goalscorer has never been called into question. Arnautovic racked up some very impressive numbers during his stay in English football, despite plying his trade with mid-table clubs like West Ham and Stoke City.
As for the Hammers, they can certainly do with another out-and-out centre-forward in their ranks. Michail Antonio made a stunning start to the campaign after scoring 10 times in just 24 appearances last season to guide West Ham to safety in the Premier League. However, his struggles with injuries have forced Moyes to reinstate Sebastian Haller in the No.9 role over the past couple of months.
Haller has impressed in patches but hasn’t really managed to deliver the goods. The Ivorian international has found the net just thrice in 16 league appearances so far this season. With Antonio’s availability for the next few weeks in doubt, a potential return for Arnautovic this month would offer Moyes more options in front of goal.
Verdict
West Ham should ideally look at some younger options in the market to add more depth to their forward line. That, however, might not be possible in the January window, especially due to the financial ramifications of the pandemic. The Hammers should, therefore, be open to the possibility of re-signing Marko Arnautovic on loan.
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The Austrian ticks plenty of boxes as a proven goalscorer in English football. He still has plenty to offer at 31. While Arnautovic might not be a long-term option for the Hammers, it’s hard to deny that he’d add some real quality to the club’s options up top heading into a hectic second half of the season.
