West Ham are adamant that they will not sell Marko Arnautovic to a Chinese club for £35million this month and are dismayed that the speculation will unsettle their top scorer.

Reports suggest that an un-named Chinese Super League club have tabled the offer for the Austrian international but West Ham, who have no intention of parting with their striker , suspect it may be a device to instigate an improved contract for the player.

A club source has confirmed the bid but said: “The agent is trying to create deals to earn money. It’s not good because it unsettles the player.”

Arnautovic, who has scored eight goals in 17 matches this season, is represented by his brother Danijel and the 29-year-old was subject of speculation last month, when Man Utd were reported to be interested in signing the in-form front man.

Arnautovic, who joined West Ham from Stoke in July 2017, has developed into one of the most potent strikers in the Premier League.

The player, who missed four matches with a hamstring injury recently but has scored three goals in two matches since his return, is amongst the top earners at West Ham but may feel that he deserves at least parity or more, with Andy Carroll and Javier Hernandez, who earn around £100,000 per week.