Stoke City face losing Marko Arnautovic as '£12m release clause is revealed'

Stoke City face the very real possibility of losing Marko Arnautovic after it was revealed the Austrian international has a £12m buy-out clause in his contract.

The 26-year-old has showcased his indomitable abilities on several occasions this season but, according to the Daily Telegraph, could be set to leave the Britannia Stadium in July if his release clause is met. The report states the stipulation only becomes valid in the final 12 months of his Stoke deal, meaning the Midlands club are in a race against time to agree new terms.

The two parties are believed to be some way apart at present with basic salary being the main sticking point so far. Arnautovic and Stoke agreed to insert the clause when he joined the club from Werder Bremen for £2m in September 2013.

Scoring eight goals this season, and forming an intimidating relationship with Xherdan Shaqiri, the Austria international has been a revelation under Mark Hughes. Paris Saint-Germain and Fenerbahce were both linked with moves in January, though no concrete offers materialised.

Hughes recently said: “As with all negotiations, usually agents go in high and we go in low and somewhere in the future we get to the middle ground and something gets done.

"Sometimes they take longer than others, but as always we are very hopeful that Marko will be a big part of what we are doing moving forward and I think that's what he would like.”