West Ham are working hard to prepare for the new Premier League season but Manuel Pellegrini’s side have been issued a huge blow.
The Sun states Manuel Lanzini is set to miss the entirety of the Hammers 2018-19 season through injury, after missing the World Cup in Russia.
25-year-old Lanzini was poised to represent his nation at the tournament but sustained a knee injury in Argentina training, rupturing his cruciate ligaments.
After initially being informed he would be sidelined for about a year, the latest update describes Lanzini’s injury as a ‘cruciate plus’ problem – meaning he could face up to 15 months on the sidelines.
The news is a massive blow to West Ham, who have seen Lanzini become a crucial player in recent seasons, and it may lead to the Hammers venturing into the market to sign a replacement.
Pellegrini has so far focused on bolstering his defence at the London Stadium, signing Ryan Fredericks, Issa Diop and goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski.
