• Full-back says team must unite now striker has signed new deal • Arnautovic injury not as serious as first feared

Pablo Zabaleta has admitted the Marko Arnautovic transfer saga has had a destabilising effect on West Ham and has reminded the striker he must respect his teammates after his dramatic U-turn over a transfer to China.

The full-back made it clear that Arnautovic’s two-game absence before returning in the 3-0 defeat by Wolves had helped a “bad atmosphere” fester among the squad and in order for the club to evolve, the Austrian striker needs to show he is a team player.

Wolves take West Ham apart in miserable return for Marko Arnautovic Read more

An insipid performance on Tuesday extended West Ham’s losing run to three matches, only three days after they crashed out of the FA Cup at League One’s bottom club, AFC Wimbledon. Asked what had gone wrong since securing seven wins in 10 matches, Zabaleta replied: “Honestly, I think so many situations off the field have been creating a little bit of a bad atmosphere.

“I’m not just saying that is the only thing – because we lost two games. But I remember in December, when we had a good run of games, it was like you could see West Ham playing as a team. Everyone working so hard for each other. But in January it’s been tough on and off the field.”

It has been a troubled period for West Ham, although they are optimistic that the foot injury Arnautovic suffered at Wolves is not as serious as first feared. There were concerns that the 29-year-old could miss the rest of the season after he left Molineux on crutches and with his right foot in a protective boot, but the early indications are that he has an outside chance of being fit for Monday’s home game against Liverpool.

West Ham still want to bring in another striker despite convincing Arnautovic to extend his contract until 2023. They have not given up their pursuit of Celta Vigo’s Maxi Gómez, whose release clause is £43.5m, and have held talks with the La Liga club over signing the Uruguayan in the summer. Celta Vigo are battling relegation and do not want to lose Gómez now. Manuel Pellegrini is an admirer of the 22-year-old, however, and is hopeful a deal can be arranged that will see him move to the London Stadium at the end of the season.

Injuries have stretched West Ham’s resources and could force them to enter the market before the window shuts. However Pellegrini is unlikely to have huge funds at his disposal, especially as Valencia have cooled their interest in Javier Hernández. The Hammers have also rebuffed an approach from Schalke to take Lucas Pérez on loan as they will let the Spanish forward leave only on a permanent basis.

Zabaleta added: “February is around the corner, I can’t wait for 1 February and everyone is back on it again. We need commitment from everyone if we want to have a good season and make West Ham a better club and a better team. I understand January is a difficult month for clubs, because you can have big interest in your best players. But Arnie was out of the squad for two games and he’s been the main player for us.

“If you want to have a good season, everyone needs to try and push the same way. As a team, when you see so much speculation around the team, players moving on, or some coming in, that can distract a little bit with the atmosphere in the dressing room. It’s hard for the manager as well – he also has to respect all the players.

“I’m not saying it’s all about Arnautovic, it’s not only his situation. There have been many players, names around the media. If we want to become the team we were in December then we need to bring everyone together and stick together. And play hard for each other.”