West Ham United are reportedly set to offer diminutive Argentinian midfielder Manuel Lanzini a new and improved contract in a determined effort to keep him at the London Stadium, and rebuff Liverpool’s interest in him.
Lanzini, 24, is thought to be the likely target for Liverpool should they lose Phillipe Coutinho to Barcelona. But West Ham, and boss Slaven Bilic, are anxious to keep Lanzini at West Ham after he impressed last season, when the club exercised their right to sign the player, after initially taking him on a season long loan from the Al Jazira club, who ply their trade in the United Arab Emirates league.
The Hammers have been looking to tie Lanzini down for a number of months, conscious that he was attracting interest from Liverpool and other clubs. He was on £30,000 per week which the Hammers wanted to increase to £50k per week, but such has been the intensity of the situation, that West Ham are now prepared to offer a 5 year deal worth over £4 million per year – around £85k per week to keep Lanzini committed to West Ham.
His signature, on the back of the contract extensions for Mikhail Antonio and Pedro Obiang, would signify to the Hammers faithful their ambition and intent to climb the Premier League table, having finished a poor 11th last season, as well as the promising signings over the close season of Joe Hart, Pablo Zabaleta, Javier Hernandez and Marko Arnautovic.
They would like the ink dry on the contract as soon as possible, which whilst not in itself would prevent a move from Liverpool, would certainly make them think twice about the possible valuation of Lanzini, which may just keep him out of the clutches of the Merseyside club.
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