Reports from Italy have revealed that Shanghai Seaports' foreign striker and Austrian soccer superstar, Arnautovic, appears to be on the verge of completing a transfer deal with Serie A rivals Bologna. However, in a recent exclusive interview with Austrian TV program willkommen, Arnautovic himself debunked rumors that he is about to leave the Chinese Super League, stressing that his contract with Shanghai Seaports has not yet ended.
According to Italian media analysis, Arnautovic will sign a two to three year contract with Bologna with an annual salary of up to €2.7 million. Meanwhile, his termination negotiations with Shanghai Harbor are underway with the intention of moving away from the Chinese Super League. In addition, clubs such as West Ham United, Crystal Palace and Fenerbahce have also shown strong interest in the Austrian star.
But Arnautovic himself is unconcerned about these transfer rumors. In the interview, when the host asked him whether he would prefer to join Bologna or West Ham United, Arnautovic replied, "I don't want to discuss these topics. I want to make it clear that I still have a year and a half contract with Shanghai Harbour and it's too early to discuss a transfer."
It is reported that Arnautovic's contract with Shanghai Seaport will last until November 2022, and his annual salary is expected to be more than 10 million euros. Against this backdrop, it is believed that he will not easily break his contract with Shanghai Seaport in favor of accepting a low-value contract in Europe, unless exceptional circumstances occur.
In fact, Arnautovic chose to leave the English Premier League to join Shanghai Seaport in pursuit of a higher income. This season, Shanghai Seaport's strong performance in the Chinese Super League is largely due to the addition of several powerful foreign players. Although Arnautovic's departure will undoubtedly be a blow to the team, at least for this year, such a situation doesn't seem to be happening yet.
