OPINION
West Ham’s summer plans have been thrown into question after key star Manuel Lanzini suffered a serious knee injury with Argentina.
Lanzini has ruptured his cruciate anterior ligament to see his World Cup hopes evaporate before him and potentially put him out of action for nine months or so in a bombshell for the Hammers.
The prognosis from West Ham medics when Lanzini returns to London will dictate whether Manuel Pellegrini will need to change his summer plans, but that is looking highly likely at this point.
Claret and Hugh report that Pellegrini will have to do exactly that, with his intention of buying two new centre-backs now looking unlikely to happen.
Pellegrini currently has a budget of £75million to work with, and that does not give him enough room to complete deals for his previously-decided targets and Lanzini’s replacement.
However, one thing that he could do to help him raise additional funds is sell a player on.
One star that has been linked with an exit this summer is Michail Antonio, with Crystal Palace reportedly keen on the powerful winger, who is said to be earning £70,000-a-week [Daily Mail].
The intended arrival of Felipe Anderson – with the club in talks with Lazio – will see Antonio’s place in the West Ham first-team under threat, and an exit now makes sense for all parties.
The Sun previously reported Palace’s interest, and should the Eagles come in for the 28-year-old, then Pellegrini should sell him on to fund a deal for a Lanzini replacement.
The club should be able to raise between £15-20million for Antonio, and with one potential signing in Joao Mario set to cost £25million, that exit should allow Pellegrini’s plans to remain unchanged.
The Hammers would therefore be able to revamp their defence completely with two centre-backs as planned, while also mitigating for the loss of Lanzini in the process.
