West Ham looking to accelerate talks with 24-year-old over fear PL giants will make move – report
By Harvey Byrne
West Ham are looking to accelerate talks with attacking star Manuel Lanzini over a new deal with fears that Liverpool will make a move for him, according to a report.
The Sun have claimed on their website that the Hammers are intent on keeping the 24-year-old and are willing to bump his wages from £30,000-a-week to £50,000-a-week.
However, Barcelona are also said to be looking at Philippe Coutinho to replace star Neymar and it is detailed that Lanzini is right at the top of the Reds’ target list if Coutinho departs Anfield.
The Argentinian still has three years remaining on his contract at the east London side, but it is reported that there is a growing unease that the club will be vulnerable if Liverpool do make an attempt for his signature.
The Hammers have also handed new contracts to each of Pedro Obiang and Michail Antonio since the start of the year, while both Marko Arnautovic and Javier Hernandez have agreed big deals at the club and they are now keen to secure the future of Lanzini.
Football Insider verdict:
Lanzini is key to West Ham’s success and it is paramount that they keep hold of him this summer. There is a big reason why Liverpool view him as the perfect replacement for one of the Premier League’s best in Coutinho and the Hammers must now ensure they don’t lose the Argentinian, like they did Dimitri Payet in January. West Ham have had a very good summer window so far, but if they lost Lanzini then that would put a huge dampener on things. Therefore, the club must ensure they offer Lanzini what he wants to remain at the London Stadium.
In other West Ham transfer news, a Sky journalist has told that the Hammers nearly signed Neymar.
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