West Ham chairman David Sullivan has revealed that the Hammers will make Manu Lanzini’s season long loan from Al Jazira permanent” by February or March”- two months earlier than planned.
ClaretandHugh revealed several weeks ago that the deal was written in tablets of stone and the chairman today confirmed it is set to happen .
He also confirmed our stories that the club had agreed a contract with Rafa Benitez before going for Jurgen Klopp ahead of hiring Slaven Bilic.
He said: “We had agreed a contract (with Benitez). He is a top manager whatever anybody says, and I think he’d have done a wonderful job for us.”
He added: “We tried Klopp as well but he wouldn’t come because he said he wanted a break. But I’m glad with the manager we have got.
The chairman also piled praise on summer signing Dimitri Payet describing him as “the best player I’ve signed in 25 years” before breaking the Lanzini
The jury is out on Bilic for me, I am not that impressed with his continued use of certain players for example Jenks. I believe the best signing we have made in the past 12 months is Payet, closely followed by Sakho. I also think Kouyate and Valencia are top signings. I am just waiting for Enner to play alongside Payet and Sakho. Could be devastating.
GOOD
That’s because he said no signings in January