West Ham’s strong season so far gives Pellegrini the upper hand in Arnautovic battle

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Manuel Pellegrini will not let Marko Arnautovic leave West Ham this month, according to the Evening Standard.

They report that the Hammers do not see any value in the January market and will keep Arnautovic at the club until the end of the season regardless.

That could apparently mean that Arnautovic is frozen out of the first team picture, if he refuses to play after his proposed move to China collapsed.

But Manuel Pellegrini feels emboldened enough to take on his talisman, happy that his side have enough goals in them to last until the end of the season.

And it is the improvement that Pellegrini has overseen at the London Stadium that puts him in a position to be patient and play the long game over Arnautovic.

In truth, it appears that the Austrian has not lost the support of his team-mates and will work hard to put himself back into contention for the first team selection.

If Arnautovic is wise, that is what he will do, but the actions of him and his agent as they looked to push through a move to China this month raise the prospect that Pellegrini will be forced to leave him out.

But if the row escalates, Pellegrini holds all the cards, thanks to the improved season under his stewardship.