Danijel Arnautovic, the Austria international's brother and representative, has urged West Ham to let the forward leave this month

Marko Arnautovic wants to leave West Ham United and join a club in China, his agent and brother has exclusively told talkSPORT.

The Hammers have rejected an offer of £35million from an unnamed Chinese Super League side for the Austria international, who cost the club £20m to buy in 2017.

getty Arnautovic has scored seven Premier League goals this season, adding to the 11 netted last term

West Ham maintain that the 29-year-old is not for sale but his representative, Danijel Arnautovic, is urging the Premier League club to let him move on this month. “West Ham bought Marko for peanuts,” read a statement released by Danijel Arnautovic to talkSPORT. “They paid £20million for him, which is nothing in the current market. “They bought him to keep them in the Premier League last season and he did that. He took every award at the club; best player, signing of the season and the players’ award. “Now West Ham have a fantastic offer. It is close to double what they paid for him. Latest Football News GOSS Liverpool news live: Thiago doubts raised, Brewster rumour confirmed, Sarr to United? NEWS Bale at Spurs training ground today, Aouar agrees Arsenal terms, Chelsea's Rice doubts “He wants to go to a new market and challenge for titles. This is what he wants. “It is his great desire that West Ham accept the offer from China.” Arnautovic agreed a move to West Ham in July 2017, joining from the club’s then Premier League rivals Stoke. The former Inter Milan man has gone from strength to strength in the year-and-a-half since he swapped Staffordshire for London, with 19 goals netted in all competitions. Incredibly, he needs just seven more goals to match the tally he recorded throughout his entire 145-game career with Stoke. Marko Arnautovic in 2018/19 Arnautovic has been in fine form this season, helping West Ham recover from a poor start to the campaign to sit mid-table at the beginning of January... Appearances – 15

Goals – 7

Shots – 41

Assists – 2

Key passes – 22

Successful dribbles – 18

Total passes – 397

Pass success – 74 per cent Arnautovic helped fire the Hammers to Premier League safety last season, and in doing so quickly established himself as a fan favourite. Despite his desire to leave the London Stadium this month, Danijel promised his brother will continue to give 100 per cent for the club up until he no longer represents them.

The statement continued: “He knows the West Ham fans love him and he has a special connection with them, but things move on, this is the world of sport, and he hopes they can understand. “Marko is professional and is preparing himself for the Arsenal game. He will give 100 per cent for West Ham. That is Marko. He will never change. “Until he is no longer a West Ham player, he will give everything to the club. He hopes the fans can respect his wishes.” The Austria forward spent four years at Stoke before leaving for West Ham West Ham responded to Danijel’s comments by releasing a statement of their own. “Marko Arnautovic has a contract and we full expect him to honour it,” the statement read. “He is not for sale.” Earlier on Thursday, Manuel Pellegrini, the West Ham manager, responded to the rumoured big-money bid for Arnautovic, who is currently level with Felipe Anderson in the club’s scoring charts for the season. “They are rumours,” Pellegrini said. “We know Marko is a very good player so maybe a lot of clubs will want him to play for their team, but at the moment he is a West Ham player and we want to keep him.

“I think Marko and all the other players involved in rumours have their heads here and want to continue playing the way they are doing so far.

“I am sure his head will be in the game against Arsenal and it will not affect his performance.”

Danijel Arnautovic's full statement on his brother's future “West Ham bought Marko for peanuts. They paid £20m for him, which is nothing in the current market. “They bought him to keep them in the Premier League last season and he did that. “He took every award at the club; best player, signing of the season and the players’ award. “Now West Ham have a fantastic offer. It is close to double what they paid for him. “He wants to go to a new market and challenge for titles. This is what he wants. It is his great desire that West Ham accept the offer from China. “He knows the West Ham fans love him and he has a special connection with them, but things move on, this is the world of sport, and he hopes they can understand. “Marko is professional and is preparing himself for the Arsenal game. He will give 100 per cent for West Ham. That is Marko. He will never change. “Until he is no longer a West Ham player, he will give everything to the club.He hopes the fans can respect his wishes.”

West Ham have been linked with signing Callum Wilson, the Bournemouth and England forward, as a replacement for Arnautovic should he be sold before the transfer window closes at the end of the month.

Arnautovic is the latest Premier League player linked with a move to the Chinese Super League, along with Fulham striker Aleksandar Mitrovic and Mousa Dembele, the Tottenham midfielder.

Though the CSL’s transfer window opened on January 1 – the same day the European window opened – it does not close at the same time, with signings allowed to be made up until the final day of February.