Matildas goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold missing from West Ham’s Australian tour announcement amid contract talks

Football fans were left baffled after Matildas hero Mackenzie Arnold was missing from her English club’s announcement for a major tour of Australia.

West Ham, Manchester City, Leicester City and Paris Saint-Germain will head to Perth for a set of four pre-season matches on August 28, August 29 and September 1.

The event will bring several Matildas stars home after the Paris Olympics, with the four clubs employing seven Australians between them last season – but it remains to be seen whether Arnold will be involved.

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The 30-year-old goalkeeper captained West Ham last season but remains out of contract in the current circumstances.

“I’d love to have (a new deal), but it’s a little up in the air right now,” Arnold said earlier this month.

“I’m just trying to focus on the Matildas, get through this camp and then head into the Olympics.”

Arnold has previously been linked with Manchester United as a replacement for England goalkeeper Mary Earps, who is set to sign for Paris Saint-Germain.

But West Ham fans are desperate for the club to re-sign their Australian captain and star goalscorer, who has played a huge part in keeping them respectable during a difficult season in recent months.

Arnold was conspicuously absent from the Hammers’ Perth announcement on the night with Matildas team-mate Katrina Gorey instead front and center alongside Vivian Assay and Dagny Brynjarsdottir.

“WHERE. IS MACKENZIE,” one fan asked, while another wrote: “Where’s Maka?”

A third said, “Are you trying to do Sam Kerr Chelsea thing where you convince us that Maka is leaving and then announce that she’s re-signed with you…please say yes.

Others were sure it meant Arnold was already on his way out of the club.

She joined West Ham in 2020 following previous stops in the United States and Norway after starting her career in the A-League.

The Queenslander had two spells at Perth Glory while also playing for Western Sydney Wanderers, Canberra United and Brisbane Roar.

It is unclear exactly when Arnold could sign a new deal, regardless of destination, but West Ham have been active in talks in recent days.

Assay and Scotland international Christy Smith, Arnold’s long-term partner, re-signed with the club in the past seven days.

The new season in the English league starts on September 21.

The Matildas’ Olympic campaign begins on July 26 (AEST), while the final will take place on August 9 – less than three weeks before the Australian tour.

Other Matildas who will play in Perth alongside Gorey include Mary Fowler and Alana Kennedy (Manchester City), Courtney Nevin (Leicester City) and Claire Hunt (PSG).

Remy Siemsen, who won seven caps for the Matildas, was recently released by Leicester City.