Marko Arnautovic winter exit
Red Star Belgrade will not stand in the way of Marko Arnautovic if a concrete transfer offer arrives during the upcoming January window, oe24 reported.
Serbian newspapers such as Novosti highlighted the potential departure of the 37-year-old forward as speculation mounts over the future of the club’s leadership. His contract runs until the summer of 2027, having signed a one-year contract until the end of the season upon his summer arrival with a salary of around 2.5 million euros, making him the highest-paid player in club history as a 137-time Austria international.
The transfer chatter intensified following reports from Sky Sport regarding sporting director Marko Marin and a potential move to German side Hannover 96. Novosti noted that no formal bid from Hannover is currently on the table and discussions have not begun, but Red Star management remains open to talks. Marin, who completed 16 appearances for Germany, acted as the decisive pioneer for Arnautovic’s move to Serbia in the summer of 2025.
Arnautovic's high salary burdens Red Star budget
The primary driver behind the Serbian club’s willingness to listen to offers is the player’s substantial salary. Laola1 reported that Arnautovic earns an estimated 2.5 million euros annually, making him the top earner in the squad and a heavy burden on the budget.
Sky Sport Austria added that missing out on the UEFA Champions League for two consecutive seasons left Red Star with millions in lost revenue. That financial shortfall makes maintaining the veteran’s historic wages untenable for the Belgrade board.
Limited playing time under Riera
On the pitch, Arnautovic has featured primarily as a substitute under head coach Albert Riera. Novosti records show the forward has made 17 competitive appearances yielding seven goals and one assist, yet he has not completed a full 90-minute match.
His continental involvement remains minimal as well. In the UEFA Conference League, he recorded only a nine-minute cameo against Lugano.
Links to Rapid Vienna
Reports from CZV Magazine pointed to potential interest from clubs in Austria or Italy. Ligaportal noted that SK Rapid previously held concrete talks with Arnautovic during the summer of 2025 before he moved to Serbia, alongside discussions with Rapid managing director of sports Markus Katzer.
A connection to the Austrian capital could stem from Vienna vice-president Roland Schmid, with whom Arnautovic shares a good relationship after serving alongside national team boss Ralf Rangnick as an advertising testimonial for his IMMOunited-Group.
However, Sky Sport Austria reported that a return to Rapid is currently off the table. Rapid manager Johannes Hoff Thorup addressed the ongoing speculation after his team’s 6-0 victory over WAC, telling Sky, I have absolutly no idea,
before deflecting to sporting director Markus Katzer. I have always focused on the players who are here. I work with the players who are available to me and my focus is on that. Everything else is speculation,
Thorup said.
Sky noted that Rapid feels well-stocked in attack with primary striker Ercan Kara netting seven goals in the ongoing Bundesliga campaign, backup Claudy Mbuyi returning from injury to score four goals across seven competitive appearances, and summer arrival Tonni Adamsen also able to play up front, while the club lacks the financial means to support the forward’s wages and views his age profile as disadvantageous to the team’s directional planning.
German second division interest
Ligaportal reported that German 2. Bundesliga club Hannover 96 could emerge as a destination if sporting director Marko Marin completes a reported move to the German side. Marin previously brought Arnautovic to Belgrade, having played alongside him at SV Werder Bremen from 2010 to 2013.
Hannover currently sits in mid-table obscurity and struggles for goals, potentially opening a tactical fit for the former Werder Bremen teammate where the attack led by former FC Bayern striker Sandro Wagner could utilize an experienced goalscorer like the 37-year-old Viennese. Novosti confirmed that no official negotiations have commenced between the clubs.
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