Pellegrini would sell Arnautovic, if price is right

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West Ham United's coach Manuel Pellegrini says he will not stop Marko Arnautovic moving to China if the price is right.

The Australian forward was the subject of a reported 35 million pounds offer from an unnamed Chinese club during the transfer window.

According to the British media, the reigning champion, Shanghai SIPG, is believed to have offered a 200,000- pound weekly wage over a four-year contract for Arnautovic.

Arnautovic joined from Stoke in 2017 for a record of 20 million pounds on a contract running until 2022. The 29-year-old remains to be a key player for the team while the boss said he will not stand in the way.

Marko Arnautovic (L) is substituted and shakes hand with manager Manuel Pellegrini (R) during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Arsenal in London, January 12, 2019. /VCG Photo

"If I say the player must stay, the player will stay," Pellegrini said. "I don't have any problem with the club. In all the months I've been working here I never had any problems with the owners about that."

Pellegrini, who had a two-year coaching career in China as the manager of Hebei China Fortune from 2016 to 2018, says that the club will come to a decision in the coming days.

"I am not telling the club about it. If it's a good deal for both teams, we will arrange to be without Marko. But the club doesn't want to sell him."

While Hammers forward Antonio once said that "everyone knows Marko wants to go."

“When you have such a high offer, everyone wants to leave but he has a contract here, and we will know what will happen about it in the coming days," Pellegrini said.