WEST HAM star Manuel Lanzini’s Argentina World Cup dreams have been shattered after he ruptured knee ligaments in training this morning.
Hammers midfielder Lanzini broke down in training with the Argentina squad and national team doctors have delivered a shattering diagnosis.
The 25-year-old has ruptured the anterior cruciate in his right knee – an injury that could rule him out of football for up to nine months.
It is a devastating blow for the midfielder, who bounced back from injury last season to force his way into the Argentina squad for Russia 2018.
Lanzini had been expected to play a big role this summer with coach Jorge Sampaoli increasingly turning to the player to provide creativity in his side.
But his injury will come as a major blow to Sampaoli and Argentina – who are one of the major favourites to go all the way to World Cup glory over the next six weeks.
Sampaoli will now have to decide who name in his squad as a replacement for Lanzini – and whether to make a direct substitute for his creative abilities, or draft in another forward.
Ricardo Centurion and Pablo Perez are two of the options in midfield who could come in, while attackers Lautaro Martinez and Mauro Icardi are other options.
The injury will also come as a huge blow to West Ham, who see Lanzini as one of their main players offering creativity going forward.
New manager Manuel Pellegrini had earmarked the former River Plate and Fluminense player to be one of the most important members of his side as he builds for the future at the London Stadium.
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Pellegrini has been looking to invest heavily on improving the squad he has inherited from David Moyes, with full-back Ryan Fredericks the first to sign-up on a free transfer from Fulham.
But the Lanzini injury will force the former Manchester City boss to step up his pursuit of at least one top class midfielder.
Pellegrini has singled out Lazio star Felipe Anderson as one of his top targets, and the Hammers have already seen a £33million bid for him snubbed.
Lazio want £43m for the 25-year-old, and with Lanzini now sidelined long-term the West Ham board may have no option than to increase their offer closer to the asking price.
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