OPINION
West Ham must instantly get over the devastating news that Manuel Lanzini has suffered a serious knee injury by swooping to sign Liverpool’s Georginio Wijnaldum.
The Hammers are in need of replacing one of the dazzling talents currently at the club as the player’s nation, Argentina, confirmed via their Twitter account that the playmaker had ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee.
[PARTE MÉDICO] Manuel Lanzini sufrió, en el entrenamiento matutino de hoy, la rotura del ligamento cruzado anterior de su rodilla derecha. pic.twitter.com/lmYEVr5YaV
— 🇦🇷 Selección Argentina ⭐⭐⭐ (@Argentina) June 8, 2018
While it’s not known how long he will be on the sidelines for, given the serious nature of the injury that he has suffered, there’s a very high chance that he will miss a lot of games for the Hammers at least in the first half of the season.
This means Manuel Pellegrini needs to find a player capable of making his team cope without Lanzini, in case the worst scenario develops, and this should see him replace the key player with current Reds midfielder Wijnaldum.
The 27-year-old, who earns £90,000-per-week (Source: Total Sportek), will be starved of opportunities next season at Anfield as he seems like the obvious player to be made a victim of the club’s new arrivals.
Jurgen Klopp’s side are on the brink of welcoming Nabil Fekir, even if there’s currently delay according to RMC Sport, and they’re already set to have James Milner, Adam Lallana, Jordan Henderson and confirmed new arrivals Naby Keita as well as Fabinho competing for a place in midfield.
Wijnaldum found himself playing deeper in midfield than he would have expected last season in his 50 appearances and it seems that after hardly being a gamechanger in his outings, that he will be shown the door.
The 27-year-old may have submitted some solid displays but he will be starved of chances in the first-team in the upcoming 2018/19 campaign and this is where the Hammers have an opportunity.
Pellegrini’s side should be able to strike a deal with the Reds as they look to make room for their new recruits and the Hammers will be capable of making Wijnaldum a promising offer that will see him get regular playing time in his preferred position.
The Dutch international scored 11 goals in 40 appearances for Newcastle United when he was playing with them in a more attacking role and he has only improved as a player since.
Therefore the Hammers must move to replace Lanzini in this window as he is likely to be stuck on the sidelines by snapping up Wijnaldum who will allow the club to cope without one of their star players from their last campaign.
