West Ham could be set to endure a tough January transfer window with a number of key players linked with an exit.

Marko Arnautovic has been the best performer under Manuel Pellegrini, and reports suggest the Austria international will demand £200,000-per-week in order to commit his future to the Hammers. Manchester United and Everton have both held an interest in the forward in the past and will definitely be impressed by his goal scoring exploits. West Ham are unwilling to meet the forward’s demands meaning he could be set for a January departure.

Arnautovic leaving would leave Javier Hernandez as the main forward at the London Stadium. The Mexico international hasn’t been at his best for a number of years and isn’t good enough to lead the line. Therefore, Pellegrini should target attacking reinforcements when the January window reopens.

One man who should be on his shortlist is Genoa attacker – Christian Kouame. Valued at £4.5m by Transfermarkt, the Ivorian joined the Serie A side from Cittadella in the summer and has hit the ground running at his new club. The 20-year-old has scored two goals and registered five assists in all competitions already this season.

Alongside Krzysztof Piatek in the attack, Kouame has flourished in the Genoa attack. Combining pace and power, the youngster is a nightmare for defenders to deal with. His direct running has caused Italian defences plenty of problems – Kouame has averaged 1.7 successful dribbles per game this season. The prospect is also a massive threat in the air, winning an incredible 4.8 aerial duels per game – more than any other West Ham player so far (WhoScored).

The forward has the potential to be one of the best strikers in the world; with the right guidance, he could be a massive star in England.

West Ham fans, thoughts?