The Sports Lowdown For All Your News and OpinionsAfter a difficult spell at QPR, Mark Hughes has rebuilt his reputation at Stoke City, achieving two top ten league finishes on a shoe-string budget. Here are five players the Welshman has bought to the Britannia Stadium for a combined fee of less than £10million.
Marko Arnautovic – £2million
Austrian Arnautovic first made a name for himself in Dutch football with FC Twente. His impressive form earned him a loan move to Inter Milan, then managed by Jose Mourinho. However, Arnautovic managed just three appearances for the Italian side, with Mourinho questioning the Austrian’s attitude. Arnautovic moved to the Bundesliga with Werder Bremen, where he scored 14 goals in three seasons. However, his time in Germany was marred with arguments with team mates and a suspension given to him by the club for speeding.
Stoke signed Arnautovic for just £2million in 2013. He played a major role in Stoke’s campaign as he played in 30 league matches, finding the net four times and helping to transform Stoke’s style of football. His made less of an impact in his second season in England, often finding himself on the bench instead of starting matches. Despite this, the Austrian still made 35 appearances in all competitions and will be looking to build on a strong start to his career in England next season.
