Lanzini for Liverpool – the case AGAINST!

Lanzini celebrates after scoring AGAINST Liverpool

There remain many sceptical Hammers fans who fear that Manu Lanzini is about to become Phillipe Coutinho’s replacement should the Reds play maker depart to Barcelona.

And let’s be clear that is a very big SHOULD indeed for he only signed a new five year deal at Anfield last year with Jurgen Klopp making him his most influential player.

Meanwhile, David Sullivan has told ClaretandHugh that Lanzini is simply not for sale and a top national journo friend I spoke with last night, who has been on Liverpool’s close season tour, explained all the information he had from Kop insiders was that it simply will not happen.

That was confirmed this morning when Barca launched a second 90 million euros bid and had it rejected out of hand with Liverpool making it clear the matter was now totally closed.

OK, I’ve been running this site long enough to know that won’t convince the most despondent and pessimistic Irons but hopefully this might.

Manu Lanzini is our top play maker but quite simply he is nowhere near ready to replace Coutinho at this stage of his career.

I understand that any player is improved by those around him but the idea that Manu can walk into the Liverpool team and make it tick to the Coutinho extent or close is an epic stretch.

Yes he has plenty of skill and sets up his share of assists but he doesn’t have the consistency level to become ‘Coutinho Mark 11’ at this stage of his career.

The idea that we are going to be faced with the dilemma of perhaps being faced with what some believe would become a £60m – £70m bid for him leaves me with my eyes wide open and legless to use the title of a favourite song of mine.

I understand the nerves among Irons when such stories start to circulate but I reckon it’s based  on a love of one of our best players – that doesn’t mean he’s ready for the sort of level being discussed. In five words: It’s based on agents talking

If he is and Barca – as I expect – fail to get Coutinho then we should be expecting them to come for Manu!

Is that going to happen. Don’t think so do you?

COYI