Man Utd could land cut-price Varane replacement after latest twist

Manchester United could make a return for an old target to replace Raphael Varane this summer, and he could be available at a bargain price.

United in need of defensive additions

Manchester United's defence has been the subject of constant scrutiny this season. Harry Maguire has remained at the club and somewhat returned to the fold, but had previously been strongly linked with a move to West Ham over the summer and could well be on the move again if Erik ten Hag is granted a stay of execution.

Manchester United's defensive options

Contract until

Harry Maguire

2025

Victor Lindelof

2025

Raphael Varane

2025

Lisandro Martinez

2027

Jonny Evans

2024

Willy Kambwala

2025

Meanwhile, Lisandro Martinez has been sidelined for much of the campaign, and there has been constant speculation linking Raphael Varane with a move to Saudi Arabia this summer. With Victor Lindelof's long-term future also uncertain, it is clear that a defensive overhaul will be necessary at Old Trafford no matter who is at the helm.

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Enter, Trevoh Chalobah. The Chelsea defender has been on the radar of Manchester United previously, with his versatility thought to be a major factor in their interest. Chalobah can play at centre-back or right-back comfortably, and he was strongly linked with a move to Bayern Munich in January, only for the Bavarian giants to opt to sign Eric Dier instead due to Chelsea's hefty asking price.

With Dier now having confirmed his permanent move to Bayern, and Chalobah's biggest admirer Thomas Tuchel leaving the club at the end of the season, there could be less competition for the Englishman's signature.

Chalobah has largely missed this season after picking up an injury at the beginning of the campaign, with Pochettino instead opting for other options over the Englishman. He made his first start of the season in their most recent outing, but could not prevent them from slipping to a 2-2 draw against London rivals Brentford, a result which leaves them 11th in the Premier League with 11 games left to play.

Chelsea need to sell in latest twist

Chelsea's latest financial results paint a grim picture, with the club posting a loss of £90m for the financial year, and the Telegraph report that 'Chelsea’s rivals believe the club need to raise at least £100 million by June 30'.

It means that just like last summer, Chelsea are under pressure to balance their books for financial fair play reasons. Unfortunately for them, however, the figure that they need to raise is now thought to be even greater than last summer, and they can no longer rely on their golden goose to get out of trouble, having sold him to Manchester United for £60m 12 months ago.

Manchester United player Mason Mount

They could well be on their way to raising some of those funds already, with options to buy included in loan moves for both Ian Maatsen and Lewis Hall. Should both deals go through, that could raise around £70m of pure profit, but they are thought to need a further £30m, something which is most easily achieved by selling homegrown talent.

To that end, the options are limited to Armando Broja (on loan at Fulham), Conor Gallagher and Chalobah, who has drawn admiring eyes from Old Trafford for a long time. It may be an opportune moment for clubs to re-open lines of communications for those players, with pressure firmly on the selling side to strike a deal quickly, and a potential bargain to be had.

Man Utd star was meant to be Henry 2.0, but Ratcliffe wants him gone

Manchester United's fanbase often has differing opinions about signings, with some expecting instant success and some taking a slightly more patient approach.

Rasmus Hojlund is the prime example of people writing a young player off way too early, which proves that the first impression of a player often doesn't tell the whole story.

The Dane failed to score in his first 14 Premier League matches of the season, but six games later, he is the joint-top scorer with seven goals after exploding since Boxing Day.

On the other hand, there are players that have the best possible start at a new club but then struggle to surpass that moment, and with that in mind, let's take a look at a star who had the world at his feet after just one game for the Red Devils.

The first impression of Anthony Martial

The 12th of September 2015 will be a day that is fondly installed in the memory of all United fans, not only because they comfortably beat Liverpool at Old Trafford 3-1, but because this was when Anthony Martial made his debut.

After replacing Juan Mata as a substitute in the 65th minute, the French attacker became a United icon 20 minutes later. Martial weaved his way through multiple Liverpool defenders and finished his dazzling run with a composed, curling finish, which was very reminiscent of a certain France legend who moved to England after starting off at Monaco.

After his debut goal, all the talk was about the United youngster who joined the club in a deal worth £58m, and he certainly didn't disappoint on his first league start, scoring a brace in a 3-2 away win over Southampton, with one of his goals seeing him famously spin Virgil van Dijk.

Over the rest of the campaign, Martial would go on to score 11 goals and pick up four assists in 31 matches, with former Man United player Louis Zaha even saying: "When you see him, he has as much quality as Thierry Henry at this age."

Martial's Man United career since

Martial is a player who often splits the opinion of the United faithful and pundits, with Alan Shearer claiming that he has a lack of hunger and desire to be a number nine, while Troy Deeney believes he is harshly criticised and misunderstood.

The former Monaco whizz has been at the club for nine years now, and over this spell he has racked up 317 appearances while scoring 90 goals and providing 55 assists, which are hardly the statistics of a player that has been a complete failure.

Man United's Anthony Martial

However, most of the frustration regarding Martial is his lack of reliability and the fact that he's extremely prone to injuries, which has both hindered his progress and left United with squad selection dilemmas over the years.

23/24

Groin surgery

8

23/24

Ill

4

22/23

Hip

9

22/23

Unknown

5

22/23

Back

6

22 is the number of setbacks that Martial has suffered since moving to the club, which has seen him miss a combined 89 games for the club. His lack of availability has been even more apparent over the past two seasons, as can be seen in the table above.

Overall, Martial's time at United has been the definition of a rollercoaster ride, but a report prior to the January window suggested that the 28-year-old was at the top of Sir Jim Ratcliffe's list of players to sell as a matter of urgency.

First Impressions

What did pundits and fans alike think about their new star signing when they arrived? Football FanCast's 'First Impressions' series has everything you need.

While the long-serving dud survived throughout last month – albeit likely due to injury – an exit does now look to be on the cards this summer, amid claims that his expiring deal won't be extended, bringing an inevitable close to a lengthy stay in Manchester.

Levy could go above club’s asking price with Tottenham ready to sign player

Tottenham have identified a top transfer target with chairman Daniel Levy and the wider Spurs recruitment team ready to go above and beyond to get a deal done this summer.

Spurs preparing for summer window

The north Londoners, after a successful January, are said to be in full preparation already for what will be an interesting summer window.

Tottenham now willing to back Ange with transfer bid for £79m "magician"

Spurs are prepared to make an offer.

ByEmilio Galantini Feb 10, 2024

Spurs are interested in Barcelona midfielder Raphinha as one option, which FA registered intermediary and insider Paul O'Keefe pointed out last week. Despite Richarlison's exceptional form over the last two months, it is also believed that Tottenham could sign a striker later this year, as they reportedly weigh up replacements for club-record goalscorer Harry Kane after his 2023 departure to Bayern Munich.

On the field, Levy and technical director Johan Lange could be helped in their pursuit of targets by Spurs' fine form as they seriously contend for a place in the Champions League group stages next season.

Radu Dragusin

Arrival

Lucas Bergvall

Arrival

Timo Werner

Arrival

Djed Spence

Exit (loan)

Ashley Phillips

Exit (loan)

Japhet Tanganga

Exit (loan)

Sergio Reguilon

Exit (loan)

Alejo Veliz

Exit (loan)

Eric Dier

Exit (loan)

Ivan Perisic

Exit (loan)

The feel-good factor around N17 has already helped them beat European heavyweights like Bayern Munich and Barcelona to the likes of Radu Dragusin and Lucas Bergvall, while there are some suggestions that Spurs also usurped Man United in the race for Timo Werner last month.

"In general, how the club works, how they work, how they train, what the days look like. It wasn't a persuasive talk like that. He just said the club was great and I noticed that when I got there. I got an incredible reception, it's a very family club but incredible people," said Bergvall on why he chose Spurs over Barcelona and how Kulusevski swayed him.

Dejan Kulusevski.

"It felt better in the stomach. They are both incredible clubs. It was a very difficult choice, it was 50-50 for a very long time, but it felt like the next step for me was Tottenham."

It will be interesting to see if Tottenham can entice more of the continent's brightest talents later this year, and it is believed they're already firmly setting their sights on Icelandic star Albert Gudmundsson.

Tottenham "ready" to sign Gudmundsson and could go above asking price

According to a report by Calciomercato.it, Spurs are ready to bring Gudmundsson to England alongside other unnamed top flight clubs.

Tottenham "in particular" are very keen on the midfielder, so much so that Levy could tempt Genoa with an offer "beyond" the £26 million requested by the Serie A side. Indeed, Ange Postecoglou's side may place a "significant sum" on the table for a player who's bagged nine goals and two assists in the league alone this season.

Gudmundsson has also been likened to Liverpool legend Mohamed Salah: “If he keeps improving, he won’t stay at Genoa for long,” said Kevin Strootman to Il Secolo XIX newspaper (via Football Italia).

“He reminds me of Salah when he was at Roma, in that every now and then he disappears. Much like Salah then, he would have four or five chances per match and only score at most one."

Tottenham could also hijack club’s £32m deal for player amid Solanke claim

Tottenham could hijack a club's £32 million forward signing late in the January window, amid claims they also want Bournemouth striker Dominic Solanke.

Spurs linked with late forward signing

In the last two weeks, Spurs have been sporadically linked with signing another forward after completing a deal to bring in Timo Werner on loan from RB Leipzig.

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Indeed, media reports have refused to rule out the possibility of Tottenham bringing in yet another attacking option for manager Ange Postecoglou. Journalist Graeme Bailey, for example, suggested recently that Spurs could still be interested in signing Jota from Al-Ittihad, amid claims West Ham are pushing for the Portuguese.

Timo Werner

Arrival (RB Leipzig, loan)

Radu Dragusin

Arrival (Genoa, permanent)

Djed Spence

Departure (loan, Genoa)

Japhet Tanganga

Departure (loan, Millwall)

Ashley Phillips

Departure (loan, Plymouth)

Sergio Reguilon

Departure (loan, Brentford)

Ivan Perisic

Departure (loan, Hajduk Split)

Eric Dier

Departure (loan, Bayern Munich)

Meanwhile, some surprise news emerged this week that Tottenham are weighing up a late move for Bournemouth striker Dominic Solanke.

The Englishman is apparently now a target for chairman Daniel Levy and the Lilywhites recruitment team, coming amid his incredible campaign at the Vitality Stadium. Solanke has netted 12 goals in 20 Premier League appearances so far this season, enticing Tottenham's interest as they consider heirs to club-record goalscorer Harry Kane.

There is also the small matter of the Club Brugge sensation Antonio Nusa and his ongoing transfer saga, with Brentford previously ousting Spurs talks to sign the 18-year-old and agreeing a deal.

Club Brugge'sAntonioNusacelebrates scoring their fourth goal with Casper Nielsen

The north Londoners had been in negotations to bring in Nusa on a buy-to-loan-back deal, similar to how they first signed the likes of Destiny Udogie and Pape Matar Sarr, who have since gone on to become first team stars.

In some better news for Spurs, though, Nusa is widely rumoured to have failed his medical with the Bees – which has now re-opened the door for Levy and co to ressurrect a move.

Now, a report from Het Laatste Nieuws (via Sport Witness) has shared a further glimmer of hope for Postecoglou.

Tottenham could hijack Brentford's £32m Nusa deal

Indeed, the news outlet claims Tottenham could make late hijack attempt for Nusa and "really want him" still.

Brentford and Brugge have agreed on the sum of £32 million, plus 12.5 per cent of any future profit and a loan back till the end of 2023/2024 – so Spurs will also need to green-light those terms.

Antonio Nusa for Norway.

Tottenham are apparently "lurking" in the background for Nusa, though one major thing not in their favour is the 18-year-old's desire to join Brentford.

Called "fantastic" by Arsenal star Martin Odegaard, the tricky winger has a growing reputation, and it will be interesting to see just how much Spurs do in fact wish to sign him.

Phil Hay now shares exciting Wilfried Gnonto Leeds contract update

Wilfried Gnonto only joined Leeds from Swiss outfit FC Zurich in the summer of 2022, but his future has been uncertain since the Whites were relegated from the Premier League at the end of last season.

Everton, who edged out Leeds in the fight for survival, made three bids to sign him, the last of which was worth £25.7m, but Daniel Farke's side held firm in their £30m valuation and the Toffees refused to meet it. While all of this was going on, Gnonto submitted a transfer request and withdrew himself from contention, but after he was denied a move, he rebuilt the bridge by apologising to Farke.

The Italian has had to be content with a bit-part role at Elland Road this season, starting only a quarter of Leeds' 28 Championship games up to this point. Heading into the New Year, then, there seemed to be a strong chance that he would push for a move again.

Leeds, for their part, have been hopeful of tying him down to a new contract if the player is receptive, and there's now been some positive movement on that front.

Leeds close to Gnonto breakthrough

According to The Athletic's Phil Hay, Gnonto could now sign a new deal at Elland Road. Leeds are "looking to finalise" an agreement with the forward after some productive negotiations, even though his previous contract still has three and a half years to run.

In an attached story for The Athletic, Hay adds that a deal is close, and so one of the big success stories of the January window could be an in-house breakthrough rather than an external transfer.

Leeds right to show patience with Golden Boy nominee Gnonto

This should be seen as a big boost for Leeds, because Gnonto remains a top long-term prospect. Indeed, we shouldn't forget, in the midst of the recent drama, that he's only 20 years old. Gnonto showed flashed of huge promise during his first season at Elland Road, scoring four goals and providing four assists. Most notably, he opened the scoring in a 2-2 draw at Manchester United within the first minute, becoming the youngest overseas player to score a Premier League goal at Old Trafford.

While his tally of one goal and one assist looks underwhelming, it's hard to be too critical of him given the distractions he's faced as a young player, his shortage of gametime and the consequent lack of rhythm.

Gnonto has also underlined his potential at the international level by not only scoring five in five for Italy's under-21s, but also amassing 13 caps for the senior side and becoming their youngest-ever goalscorer in a defeat to Germany in 2022.

His exploits that year, where he also scored 10 goals and provided five assists in 36 games for Zurich, earned him a place in the final 20 for the Golden Boy award, given to the best under-21 in top-flight European football. That shortlist also featured the likes of Jude Bellingham, Jamal Musiala and Pedri.

Gnonto, then, could still prove to be a huge bargain at just £3.8m as he prepares to commit his long-term future to Leeds.

Man Utd can forget Olise with move for £34m star who’s "similar to Saka"

While yet to be officially ratified, Sir Jim Ratcliffe's proposed 25% stake in Manchester United has sparked tentative hope of a brighter future at Old Trafford among supporters, with the INEOS chief already saying all the right things amid his recent public appearances.

The 71-year-old businessman revealed that he is "very excited" at the prospect of taking charge of his boyhood club, with rumours already rife regarding the possible investments that he could make in the playing squad this summer.

As per a prior report from the Standard, Ratcliffe is seeking to make Crystal Palace star Michael Olise one of his first signings at the club, with the France U21 international having a release clause in his current deal that comes into effect at the end of the season.

The former Reading man would seemingly be a wise replacement for the floundering Antony – who has no goals or assists to his name this season – yet he is not the only right-wing option that the club appear to be considering, amid interest in another young gem who is shining in the Netherlands.

Man Utd eyeing Michael Olise alternative

As per a report from journalist Christoper Michel late last month, the Red Devils are said to have their eye on PSV Eindhoven winger, Johan Bakayoko, with the 20-year-old having enjoyed an impressive season in the Eredivisie.

According to Michel, the Belgian whiz – who has also been the subject of interest from Liverpool – has a market value of around €40m (£34m), making him a relatively affordable option if a deal can be done for close to that figure.

PSV Eindhoven forwardJohan Bakayoko.

With recent reports from talkSPORT indicating that the aforementioned Olise could command a fee 'well in excess of £50m', Bakayoko could then represent an affordable, quality alternative for Erik ten Hag and co.

How Johan Bakayoko compares to Michael Olise

As United have learned with the case of Antony – who has just eight goals and three assists in 66 games for the club – starring in Holland is a different kettle of fish to performing in the Premier League, with Olise at least having the benefit of his current experience of English football.

That being said, it is hard to ignore the impact that Bakayoko is making for a high-flying PSV side in 2023/24, with the in-demand gem scoring five times and registering a remarkable 13 assists in 29 games in all competitions.

Olise, by contrast, has just five goals and one assist to his name this term – albeit while making only nine appearances – with the Palace ace having also regularly been blighted by injury during his time at Selhurst Park.

Equally, Bakayoko's status as a worthy alternative can be seen by the fact that he has 12 goals and 18 assists in just 66 games for his current side, while his 22-year-old counterpart has a remarkably similar record of 11 goals and 20 assists from 80 games for the Eagles.

Olise(PL)

Bakayoko (Eredivisie)

9

17

5

3

1

8

4

9

2.2

2.5

2.7

3.3

17.6

13.6

2.9

0.8

Like Olise, the nine-cap Belgium international is a dazzling left-footer who typically operates on the right flank, with his profile having even been described as "similar to [Bukayo] Saka", according to data analyst Ben Mattinson.

That likeness to the Arsenal star – who has racked up 21 goal involvements in 27 outings this term – can be seen by the duo's dribbling prowess, with Saka averaging 2.04 successful take-ons and 5.11 progressive carries per 90 across the last 365 days, while Bakayoko averages 3.73 and 7.51 for those same two metrics, respectively.

Man Utd could repeat Zlatan move by signing "the best no.9 in the world"

The Red Devils have been linked with a swoop for the world-class centre-forward.

ByDan Emery Jan 15, 2024

Evidently a real creative outlet from the flanks, the one-time Anderlecht youth asset is certainly a figure to keep an eye on, even amid Ratcliffe's apparent interest in Olise.

Tottenham Hotspur: Sky Sports man drops Steven Bergwijn claim

Tottenham Hotspur winger Steven Bergwijn could seek a move elsewhere because Antonio Conte is not playing him enough in a World Cup year, claims Sky Sports reporter Michael Bridge.

The Lowdown: Latest links

The 24-year-old was at the centre of heavy transfer speculation during the January window after it was reported that Ajax were keen on signing the Netherlands international.

According to the Daily Mail, the Dutch giants submitted a £15m bid for the attacker, which Spurs quickly rejected. It was reported that they were holding out for a sum closer to the £27m they paid themselves two years prior. After further negotiations, a deal between the two clubs failed to materialise.

However, Italian media outlet La Gazzetta dello Sport have now reported that AC Milan are working on a deal ahead of a proposed move in the summer.

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The Latest: Bridge’s claim

Sky Sports man Bridge believes that Bergwijn would be interested in a move away from the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium due to his lack of playing time under the Spurs boss.

Speaking with GiveMeSport, he claimed: “I know AC Milan like him. He might look at it and think ‘I do enjoy it here, but I’m not playing enough. We’ve got the World Cup coming up in November, so I need to impress Louis van Gaal. I need to be banging some goals in’.

“There is Memphis Depay and Arnaut Danjuma is banging them in, so he needs to start scoring and playing.”

The Verdict: Should leave

Under Lilywhites boss Conte, Bergwijn has struggled to establish himself as a mainstay in the XI.

He has started just one Premier League game under the Italian, having been utilised as a last-minute substitute on 15 other occasions.

Therefore, if the 24-year-old hopes to showcase his “unique” talents to van Gaal ahead of World Cup selection, then a move away from Tottenham would be in Bergwijn’s best interests.

In other news: Tottenham Hotspur: Noel Whelan makes Joe Rodon exit claim

Spurs: Conte handed huge boost

Tottenham Hotspur will face a Brentford side in the Premier League this evening that doesn’t include Ethan Pinnock, with the centre-back ruled out with a hamstring injury.

What’s the latest?

As quoted by West London Sport, Bees manager Thomas Frank said to the media: “Ethan will, hopefully, be only a couple of weeks, so that means Manchester United is borderline, but let’s see.”

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The 28-year-old limped off in the first half of the west London outfit’s 2-1 win at Watford last Saturday whilst fellow defender Zanka will also be sidelined with Spurs set to face a side with limited resources at the back.

Conte will be buzzing

After last weekend’s slip up against Brighton, Tottenham can no longer afford to make mistakes if they are to secure Champions League football for next season with just six matches left this term.

Spurs have dropped out of the top four temporarily after Arsenal’s 3-1 victory over Manchester United, although the Lilywhites will return to fourth place with victory at the Brentford Community Stadium.

However, their place is hanging by a thread with goal difference the only factor separating the two sides if Conte’s side are victorious at Brentford.

Therefore, the prospect of playing a side struggling for options at the back is certainly a huge boost for the north London outfit.

The Bees are in inspired form though, winning five of their last six which has ultimately extinguished any nerves regarding an instant return to the Championship.

Moreover, Pinnock has settled into the top flight expertly, playing in 32 of the Bees’ 33 league matches, keeping seven clean sheets in the process.

After Brentford, Spurs face three tricky tasks with Leicester at home as well as a trip to Liverpool whilst a home North London Derby that could ultimately decide who between them and Arsenal take fourth place.

As a result, victory this evening is crucial which means that Brentford’s injury woes will certainly leave Conte buzzing.

And in other news: Conte unleashes “amazing” £58k-p/w gem, “pathetic” £43m flop axed: Spurs predicted XI

Everton eye move for Chris Rigg

Everton are interested in signing Sunderland teenage sensation Chris Rigg who is valued at £1m despite being just 14-years-old.

What’s the story?

According to The Daily Star, Everton are battling with Newcastle to sign teenage wonderkid Chris Rigg from Sunderland.

He has already featured for the Black Cats’ under 18’s side, but despite playing on Wearside, Rigg is a Newcastle fan, so Everton will have to work hard to secure his signature.

It’s not for the first time that the Toffees have been interested in signing a Sunderland prospect, with their current goalkeeper and England international Jordan Pickford coming through the Academy of Light.

He’s the best talent for his age

At just 14 he is deemed the best talent for his age and when he’s already appearing in the under-18 Premier League it’s hard to disagree.

Rigg has made seven appearances this season and has directly contributed in three goals in that time.

Thanks to Pickford’s £25.6m move to Goodison Park in 2017 it might make it easier for Everton to secure Rigg’s services. They will no doubt already have a relationship with Sunderland and they could even use Pickford to help persuade the youngster and his family to choose them.

The Black Cats will also be reluctant to let Rigg head to their closest rivals so could also try and push the player in the direction of Merseyside.

Sunderland won’t want the player to leave the Stadium of Light, but they may have no choice once Premier League clubs come calling. However, they are currently pushing for promotion out of League One and will hope that success could persuade Rigg to stay at Sunderland a bit longer.

Rigg is yet to receive a call up for England at youth level but we suspect that if he continues performing for Sunderland then it won’t be long before that happens.

In terms of if he moves, Everton are historically known for producing good players from their academy with Anthony Gordon one of the latest graduates to shine for the first team.

The prospect of working with Everton manager and Premier League legend Frank Lampard has also got to be a consideration. Whilst Rigg wouldn’t be likely to go into the first team if a move happened, to be able to have a figure like him around would be inspiring enough.

Wherever he goes it’s likely he’ll have a bright future, and this is certainly a name to keep an eye on.

IN other news: Everton could finally axe shocking £69k-p/w “liability” with £9.9m-rated machine – opinion

Manuel Lanzini shines in Burnley draw

West Ham United’s top-six hopes were dealt a big blow this afternoon as the Hammers were held to a 1-1 draw by relegation-threatened Burnley.

The managerless Clarets, who parted company with Sean Dyche on Friday after ten years in charge, took the lead through Wout Weghorst in the 33rd minute and could’ve had a two-goal lead at half-time when awarded a penalty. However, the spot-kick was missed by Maxwell Cornet.

Irons midfielder Tomas Soucek was able to equalise with 16 minutes to go for the hosts to ensure they took something from the match, although after Thursday’s 3-0 win in Lyon, the result will certainly be a disappointment.

Depsite the result, there were some shining lights for David Moyes’s side with attacking midfielder Manuel Lanzini particularly impressive.

According to SofaScore, the Argentinian was the Hammers’ joint-second best player, picking up a 7.4/10 rating alongside right-back Ben Johnson with goalscorer Soucek the highest-ranked with a score of 7.5.

The Czech Republic international’s goal was assisted by the 29-year-old, his fourth of the campaign, who also managed to impressively complete 93% of his passes whilst making 65 touches in a lively 79 minutes.

With three key passes and a 100% dribble success rate, the playmaker was a handful to deal with for Burnley. Moreover, Lanzini also won half of his duels.

Eyelids certainly wouldn’t have been batted outside the London Stadium when team news was announced if the Argentinian wasn’t starting having played from the off three days prior in Lyon.

Furthermore, the attacking midfielder was recently involved in a serious car crash that left him with a knock.

However, once again being deployed in the middle of an attacking midfield trio, the 29-year-old, who was labelled as a “special, special player” by captain Declan Rice earlier this season, impressed.

There’s plenty of competition for places in West Ham’s attacking midfield with the likes of Said Benrahma, Nikola Vlasic, Pablo Fornals and Jarrod Bowen all able to play behind the striker.

The Argentinian is easily the longest-serving of them all though and is certainly a fan favourite after seven seasons at the East London club.

Although, his time as a Hammer may soon come to an end with the maestro’s contract set to expire next summer with few signs suggesting an extension will be signed.

For now, though, Lanzini must continue performing well to maintain a starting spot in both the Premier League and Europa League as the Hammers look to push for European qualification for next season.

AND in other news: West Ham plot bid for £21.6m-rated “leader”, Moyes can now axe “shocking” £61k-p/w dud

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