Branislav Ivanovic: 'Marko Arnautovic should leave Stoke City'

Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic has claimed that Marko Arnautovic has 'outgrown' Stoke City and should leave the Potters in order to fulfil his potential.

On Sunday, Premier League rivals Ivanovic and Arnautovic will come face to face when Serbia host Austria in a qualifier for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

Ivanovic has said that he has "the utmost respect for Arnautovic", but has seemingly questioned the attacker's decision to sign a new contract at the Britannia Stadium before the start of the new campaign.

"I have the utmost respect for Arnautovic because he has matured in the last year and a half or two," Ivanovic told reporters.

"He has drawn a lot of attention here [in Serbia] because of his heritage (he has a Serbian father) and in footballing terms, he has perhaps improved beyond the quality of the club he plays for. We have to close him down and if we do, we have a good chance of keeping a clean sheet."

Arnautovic scored twice for Austria in their 2-2 draw with Wales on Thursday night.