Hughes keen to keep Stoke winger Arnautovic

Stoke City have a fight on their hands to keep star player Marko Arnautovic after the winger handed in a transfer request in order to push through a move to West Ham.

The Austrian signed a contract extension last summer when it had just 12 months to run, but he has reportedly decided the club no longer matches his ambition.

West Ham had a £15 million bid rejected by Stoke, who are said to have been insulted by the Hammers bid and are holding out for a much larger sum.

And boss Mark Hughes is in no hurry to sell the forward, who scored 11 goals for club and country last season.

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“Well, Marko and his people have put in a transfer request but that happens on occasions,” he confirmed.

“Any comings and goings are at our discretion and it’s our decision ultimately.

“Players can express an opinion or a view in terms of where they see their future but at the end of the day contracted players are contracted to the club and ultimately we have the final say.”

Hughes believes Arnautovic’s head has been turned, and West Ham, who have only signed right-back Pablo Zabaleta so far this summer, are reportedly set to offer bigger wages.

“We’ve never put him up for sale, we’ve never said he’s for sale,” Hughes said.

“Maybe clubs – and why wouldn’t they? – see a good player at another club and I would imagine there would be some interest from maybe one club.

“There’s been a bid but bids have to be reasonable and that one wasn’t.”