Former West Ham United assistant manager Stuart Pearce has cast doubts over his old club’s ability to keep Marko Arnautovic.
Pearce assisted David Moyes in keeping West Ham up last season after replacing Slaven Bilic.
West Ham face a fight to keep their star man after reports that he is ready to leave for a ‘bigger club’.
According to the likes of the Independent, the Hammers talisman wants to play Champions League football.
Fans hoping reports are just media tittle tattle
It is the news West Ham fans have been dreading.
And it comes off the back of fine form for the East Londoners in 2018 which has seen him establish his reputation as one of the best players outside the top four.
Naturally West Ham fans have been disappointed by the development.
But many have dismissed it as speculation or an attempt by Arnautovic’s agent – and brother – to get him a better deal with West Ham.
Supporters hope Arnautovic can be persuaded to stay.
‘He owes a lot to David Moyes and West Ham, but…’
But that would be unlikely if a big club came knocking according to ex Hammers assistant manager Stuart Pearce.
Speaking on talkSPORT, Pearce – who coached Arnautovic alongside David Moyes last season – cast doubts over the Austrian’s future.
“You’ve probably got to outline to Marko (how important he is),” Pearce said on talkSPORT.
“In my opinion Marko wasn’t the player (he is now, compared to the start of my time at West Ham). He owes a lot to David Moyes for playing him up front as a centre forward and also probably owes a lot to West Ham.
‘Money talks’
“The fans love him there, he’s almost like a (Paolo) Di Canio type you know maverick type player and you’ve got to make sure he’s valued I think.
“That’s really important that he knows how valued he is.
“(But) I think in modern day football if players want moves or not if someone comes down and puts enough money on the table at West Ham, money talks doesn’t it. He’s gone.”
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