OPINION
West Ham United need to replace the injured Manuel Lanzini with his international teammate Maximiliano Meza.
The Hammers suffered a massive injury blow ahead of their new season when star midfielder Manuel Lanzini suffered a knee injury on international duty with Argentina, now they need to make sure they replace his creativity.
Luckily, Lanzini’s international teammate Maximiliano Meza is a similar type of player and his arrival would soften the blow of their key player’s injury, which is why they should move for him this summer.
The Argentine was one of the few players who played well for his country in the 2018 World Cup in Russia. His performances showcased his creativity, passing and dribbling ability, all the attributes they’re going to miss with Lanzini’s injury.
The 26-year-old currently plays for Independiente in the Argentinian top-flight, so he could be available for the right price.
He was in good form for his domestic side last season, which lead to his inclusion in Jorge Sampaoli’s Argentina squad. He made 25 appearances in all competitions, scoring three goals and providing five assists, leading them to a 6th place finish in the league (TransferMarkt).
Manuel Pellegrini is going to need all the technical ability he can get in order to get his side playing decent football, as the current squad are more accustomed to playing a more direct style of football, so Meza would be a welcome addition to the squad ahead of the new season.
Lanzini and Meza are of a similar age, they’re the same nationality and they even look alike, you couldn’t get a more perfect replacement. The signing of Meza would signal a shift to a more technically able squad, which will be music to the ears of Hammers fans and new boss Pellegrini.
