OPINION
West Ham boss Manuel Pellegrini looks to be focusing much of his recruitment effort on his defence this summer, but there are big improvements to be made in other areas of the pitch as well.
Midfield in particular needs strengthening, and the Hammers’ need for a new presence in the middle has been made worse by the injury suffered by Manuel Lanzini on international duty.
The Argentina international ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament in training and will now miss the World Cup, with West Ham reportedly concerned that he may miss a large chunk of next season too.
This development will cause Pellegrini to adjust his transfer plans this summer as he looks to mitigate for that big loss, and a midfield signing now looks to be all-important.
One player that the club could bring in to strengthen their midfield while providing cover for Lanzini is Chelsea star Ruben Loftus-Cheek, who has made it clear he wants regular first-team football next season.
As quoted by the Mirror, he said: “Going forward I’ve really realised the importance of playing regularly for my own progress and development.”
“I felt like I got better and better every game at Palace so playing regularly is the key going forward and that will help me make my decision after the World Cup.”
This is a pretty clear declaration of intent from Loftus-Cheek, who looks like he will no longer accept sitting on the bench at Stamford Bridge after a successful season on loan at Crystal Palace.
That opens the door for other Premier League sides to take a look at the 22-year-old, and West Ham must muscle their rivals aside to secure him for the upcoming season.
While the 6ft 3in youngster [Transfermarkt] would not provide direct replacement for Lanzini, his attacking instincts are clear and he would add some presence to the midfield.
Mark Noble and Cheikhou Kouyate are in need of increased competition, and Loftus-Cheek would surely be able to provide that with his strong all-round play.
Whether it is a loan deal or a permanent one, a move for Loftus-Cheek makes perfect sense for the Hammers this summer and they must move to make it become a reality in the coming weeks.
