West Ham United are willing to listen to offers for 6ft 4in talisman Marko Arnautovic, which has alerted the attention of Manchester United, according to TalkSport.

What’s the story, then?

TalkSport report that the Hammers’ huge summer spending spree means that the Austrian forward may need to be sold in order to balance the books.

They claim that Manuel Pellegrini’s willingness to sell has alerted Jose Mourinho, although he faces a transfer tussle with Champions League semi-finalists Roma for Arnautovic’s signature.

Arnautovic signed for West Ham for a then club-record fee last summer but the arrival of the Hammers’ new most expensive transfer Felipe Anderson has reportedly made him less integral than he was under David Moyes.

Rashford and Martial offer more long-term

Jose Mourinho’s continued interest in Arnautovic suggests once more that he wants more physicality in the ranks at Old Trafford.

However, the Austrian is a man who can play out on the left and through the middle and United already have a glut of those; Alexis Sanchez, Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial.

The latter duo – Rashford and Martial – are incredible long-term prospects and it would be a poor move from Mourinho to dump one, or both of them, in the short-term pursuit of power by bringing in Arnautovic.