Selke as an alternative
© Imago
This article was published in the first version on July 10th at 1:40 p.m. and was later supplemented with further information about Marko Arnautovic and Davie Selke.
Marko Arnautovic (36) is a record national player in Austria with 125 international matches, but the attacker cannot yet show a game in the local Bundesliga. In Austria, rumors have been circulating for weeks to move to Rapid Vienna, his advisor and brother Daniel Arnautovic now confirmed the interest of the Hütteldorfer: “We are in contact, but that is already everything. Much of what is being written in Austria is not true. Some news about Marko is currently not agreed.” Despite the talks, Arnautovic will not appear for Rapid.
Update July 11, 2:55 p.m.: As part of Rapid’s training camp, Markus Katzer, Managing Director of Sport, spoke about the Arnautovic personnel and announced that the Viennese native will not sign in Hütteldorf. “I would like to emphasize in advance that we had very good, professional and appreciative conversations with both Marko Arnautovic and his management. Personally and as a club, we were important to not be able to miss a possible chance of committing one of the best Austrian footballers in recent history. Having it will still be a priority for us, as quickly as possible to form a finished and powerful team for the first tasks of the upcoming season.
Possibly more as an alternative to Arnautovic Rapid apparently also has HSV promotion guarantee Davie Selke. The 30-year-old is without a club after the end of his contract in Hamburg and was recently primarily considered a candidate to switch to Turkey. “Sky” confirmed information from Italy on Thursday, according to which Viennese is also interested in Selke. This finds the project exciting, it is said that he has other offers.
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Rapid has a need for action in the storm
In the summer, Inter Milan Arnautovic committed to FC Bologna after a one -year loan for 10.9 million euros. At the Champions League finalist, the ex-bremer completed 28 games in the past season in which he was involved in nine goals. His contract ended in June, so that he has been without a club since the beginning of the new season. Born in Vienna, the Viennese was under 35 million euros between December 2018 and September 2019 when he was under contract with West Ham United. Six years later, there are still 3 million euros in it, which is one of the most valuable contractless strikers.
Rapid finished fifth in the past season and now has to fight for European business in the Conference League playoffs. With Dion Beljo and Guido Burgstaller, the two best goal scorers left the club, so that a gap gaps in the attack. Beljo returned to FC Augsburg after loan, Burgstaller ended his career. Arnautovic could have helped replace the duo.
Born in Vienna, he has the experience of 520 professional games with 217 goal participations in five different countries. After stations at Werder Bremen in Germany, West Ham and Stoke in England, Bologna and Inter in Italy, Twente in the Netherlands and Shanghai Port in China would have closed a circle for him. As early as 2003 to 2004, Arnautovic was active for Rapid’s youth before going to Twente over the fourth division club Floridsdorfer AC.