West Ham intend to try to sign a replacement striker during this January transfer window if Marko Arnautovic seals a move to China.

Austria international Arnautovic is being targeted by Shanghai SIPG, who are prepared to offer him a four-year deal worth £275,000 a week, but West Ham have no intention of accepting their current offer of €35 million [£31.28m].

West Ham have told Shanghai SIPG to raise their bid closer to £50m before they will consider parting with their leading scorer, who appeared to wave goodbye to West Ham fans as he was substituted in the 1-0 victory against Arsenal.

A club source said today: “If Arnautovic goes — and that will be the manager’s decision — then we will try to sign a replacement now and not wait until the summer.”

Bournemouth’s Callum Wilson, who has been linked with Chelsea, is one possibility but his club hope they have cooled interest in him by slapping a £75m fee on his head.