Stoke forward Marko Arnautovic has handed in a transfer request after the Potters turned down a £15m bid from West Ham, reports The Daily Telegraph.
Arnautovic only signed a new long-term deal just over 12 months ago but there were murmuring of potential unrest throughout last season and he has now made it clear he wishes to leave.
Slaven Bilic has earmarked Arnautovic as a top transfer target this summer and the Hammers would only have been given encouragement in their pursuit of Austria international after the 28-year-old formally asked to leave Stoke.
West Ham are expected to return with a £20m offer in a bid to prize the Stoke No.10 away from the Bet365 Stadium, but will first wait to find out the extent of a knee injury he picked up just hours after handing in a transfer request.
Arnautovic started in Stoke’s pre-season match against Swiss side Neuchatal Xamax but was forced off just before half time with a suspected knee injury, which could ruin his chances of securing a move away from the Potters this summer.
In the last two Premier League campaigns only five forwards have committed more fouls than Arnautovic (90).
For more stats on Marko Arnautovic, click here to visit his WhoScored player page
