Manuel Pellegrini tells Marko Arnautovic to improve at West Ham or forget big-club transfer

Arnautovic has previously been linked to Manchester United, with Jose Mourinho said to be keen on bringing the forward to Old Trafford

Marko Arnautovic must get better at West Ham before considering a move, says his manager (Getty)

Manuel Pellegrini says Marko Arnautovic needs to put in more stellar performances for West Ham before he can think about leaving for a big club like Manchester United.

Jose Mourinho had been keen on a close-season move for the Austria forward, 29, who has recovered from a knee injury in time to play against the Red Devils in today’s lunchtime kick-off at the London Stadium.

However, no bid materialised for a player who is under contract until 2022 and valued by his club at around the £50 mark.

Arnautovic will go into the game with three goals in five Premier League games to his name so far this season, having scored 11 last term in a debut campaign that started poorly under Slaven Bilic but improved rapidly once David Moyes took over and began using him as an out-and-out attacker.

Pellegrini made it clear he felt his star man needed to put some more top-quality performances for his current employers before he could look elsewhere.

“He had a very good second half of last season, now Marko needs to have a complete season,” Pellegrini said. “He is a top player and maybe he can reach a higher target than he has done at the moment.

“Because of that I don’t think it is a good idea to go immediately to a big team because he would maybe not start every game like he does here. With his performances I am absolutely sure he will have a very good season.

“Maybe we will see what will happen in the future but right now his mind and his commitment is with West Ham.”

Manuel Pellegrini has told his star player to keep his eye on West Ham (Getty)

Another Hammer whose future is unclear is teenager Declan Rice, who has yet to agree a new contract that would reflect his emergence as a key performer in front of the defence.

The 19-year-old, who has two seasons left on a current deal worth £3,000-a-week, has so far rejected an upgrade to around the £15,000-a-week mark that would also have seen him paid £20,000 per Premier League start.

Pellegrini was confident a solution favourable to both club and player would eventually be found and insisted the club had been treating as an adult during the negotiations.

“Declan must keep making good performances and not think about making more or less money in this moment,” he said.

“No-one in the club is stupid enough not to understand that he is not a young player any more. I don’t think he will have any problems with his contract in the future.

“It’s more important for Declan to be focused on the football because the money for him will arrive sooner or later. I see that he is a mature player for his age, has ambitions to be a top player and is working that way every day.”