Why West Ham Have To Keep Manuel Lanzini This Summer

With recent talk of David Moyes being unimpressed with Manuel Lanzini, it is rumoured the club could look to sell the Argentine international this summer.

After the recent reports of Lanzini allegedly playing a factor in former Chelsea and Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas departure from Marseille, it has become apparent the Jewel was perhaps closer to a departure from the club than fans realised.

It has become apparent that Lanzini was seen as the ideal replacement for Morgan Sanson who joined Aston Villa for £16 million in mid-January. Marseille failed to sign Dimitri Payet’s former teammate with the Hammers rejecting their loan offer, as they instead opted to sign Celtic’s Olivier Ntcham despite Villas-Boas stating he did not wish to sign the player.

Lanzini has had limited game time this season making just 12 appearances, with the majority of them coming from the bench. The Argentine only has one goal for the Hammers in the Premier League this season and it won’t take fans long to remember where that goal occurred. The Jewel loves a derby with ten goals in 26 appearances against London based rivals.

After initially joining West Ham on loan, Manuel Lanzini convinced the club to make his move permanent after some dazzling displays.

Manuel Lanzini, West Ham. (Photo by MATT DUNHAM/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) /

During Moyes first stint in charge, Lanzini was a focal point of the team with the former River Plate man linking up with Marko Arnautovic on many an occasion as Moyes steered the Hammers clear of relegation.

Lanzini spent the majority of Manuel Pelligrini’s first season in charge nursing a cruciate ligament rupture, returning briefly in February before picking up another injury in April which would see him return to fitness just three weeks before the end of the season.

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While Lanzini’s game-time has been limited over the past few seasons, when called upon the 28-year-old has shown that he still has enough quality to keep a place in the squad. With West Ham unlikely to make more than £10 million for his sale, it has to be worth keeping the Argentine in the squad especially if the Hammers secure a European place next season.

Signed by Slaven Bilic back in 2015 initially on loan, before making his move permanent for £9 million, the playmaker has made 152 appearances in Claret and Blue in all competitions and was runner up for the 2017 Hammer of the year won by Michail Antonio.

With Moyes clear in his ambition to go for a European place as well as both the FA Cup and League Cup next season, the Hammers will need squad depth as the squad faces the possibility of more games.

Moyes currently has forwards such as Jarrod Bowen, Pablo Fornals, Jesse Lingard, Said Benrahma, Andriy Yarmolenko and of course Lanzini himself. But with Lingard on loan and Yarmolenko struggling with his fitness West Ham will need the Argentine forward next season should the Hammers encounter a few injury problems.

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Lanzini’s versatility means he can play as a CAM or on either the left or right of midfield and his skilful dribbling combined with his ability to deliver a killer pass, the Argentine is worth keeping hold of as he could prove useful on many Thursday nights in Europe next season.