Following the arrival of club-record signing Lucas Paqueta, West Ham United are planning to sell midfielder Manuel Lanzini, according to Football Insider.
The Lowdown: Lanzini’s career
Having initially arrived at Rush Green on loan from Al-Jazira, the Argentina international joined the Hammers on a permanent deal in the summer of 2016 for a fee of £9m.
The 29-year-old went on to become an integral part of David Moyes’ side, having amassed 210 appearances for the Irons.
This season however, the attacking midfielder has played just 93 minutes of Premier League football, having failed to make an appearance in four of the Hammers’ opening seven games.
The Latest: Lanzini exit news
According to a report by Football Insider, West Ham are now ready to offload Lanzini following the £51m arrival of Paqueta at the London Stadium.
It is believed the Argentine was told going into the summer transfer window that he was free to find a new club, whether that be on a loan or on a permanent deal.
Having failed to agree terms elsewhere, the midfielder remained in east London.
However, he has reportedly been informed that his situation remains the same ahead of the winter window, as he will once again be allowed to leave in January.
Moyes no longer views Lanzini as a key player, meaning he is surplus to requirements at Rush Green.
[web_stories_embed url="https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/west-ham-latest-updates-2/" title="West Ham latest updates!" poster="" width="360" height="600" align="none"]
The Verdict: Lanzini vs Paqueta
When comparing the two attacking-midfielders’ stats, whilst Lanzini comes out on top in a couple of areas, Paqueta’s all-round abilities clearly dominate the rankings.
As per FBRef, compared with positional peers across Europe over the past year, the Argentine ranks in the 99th percentile for pass completion and in the 97th percentile for passes attempted. In the same categories, the Brazilian ranks in the 81st percentile and 88th percentile respectively.
However, Paqueta also ranks in the top 15 percent for shots total, progressive passes, progressive passes received, pressures, tackles, clearances and aerials won. Lanzini, on the other hand, ranks in the bottom 50 percent for five of these categories.
Whilst Lanzini has been a brilliant servant for the club, having been hailed as a 'special player' by teammate Declan Rice, it seems like his stay in Moyes’ XI has now come to an end.