West Ham United make Manuel Lanzini contract decision
West Ham United are prepared to offer Argentinian midfielder Manuel Lanzini a new deal to stay at the London Stadium, according to Claret and Hugh.
The 29-year-old was one of David Moyes’ quieter players during the 2021-22 campaign as he scored five goals with three further assists in helping the Hammers to seventh in the Premier League.
He also scored in the FA Cup and Carabao Cup as well as assisted once in the Europa League run to the semi-finals and is set to be rewarded for an under-the-radar season.
Claret and Hugh sources have said that West Ham would like to tie Lanzini down to a new deal as he only has 12 months remaining on his current agreement at Rush Green.
They are also unwilling to let go of another midfielder after Mark Noble retired at the end of last season and Alex Kral returned to his parent club at the same time.
Good news
This is exactly what we need with the midfield department looking thinner and thinner with each passing day as the 2022-23 campaign draws ever closer.
As it stands, only Declan Rice and Tomas Soucek could be considered natural central midfielders in David Moyes’ squad with Lanzini and Spaniard Pablo Fornals more suited to the number 10 role.
Conor Coventry is another who would fit the bill as a central midfielder but he spent last season on loan at Milton Keynes Dons and his future at the London Stadium is just as questionable.
We really need to get Lanzini tied down to that new contract soon to avoid any potential of him leaving on a free transfer in January.
It doesn’t have to be a whopping four or five-year deal though as he nears 30. We can afford to offer him a two or three-year stay and then hope to sell the Argentine at some point rather than get nothing for his exit.