Report: Hammer wants Argentina return

West Ham midfielder Manuel Lanzini wants to return to River Plate this summer according to Argentinean journalist Nicolas Distasio.

The attacking midfielder who has been the subject of interest from Turkey and the Middle East, has made 151 appearances for the Hammers since signing in 2015, scoring 22 goals and making 23 assists.  Bought for £10.8m in 2016 after a year on loan from Al-Jazira the Argentine international has failed to fully recover his form after a serious injury while on World Cup training.

Last month David Moyes insists Manuel Lanzini is not for sale this summer, unless he asks to leave!

The 28-year-old has made just four starts in the Premier League last season. He has been linked with a return to Argentina in recent weeks but Moyes insists he is not planning on letting the diminutive playmaker go, and says that his lack of minutes can be attributed to his injury issues.

Speaking to reporters, the manager previously said: “I never had any plans of letting him go anyway, unless Manu wanted to leave. I’m more than happy with him. He has been really unlucky not to have started some more games. During the international break he picked up a calf injury and it meant that he missed those chances where he might have played in those games after the break and got more football.

“From that point of view and the form of Declan and Tomas being very strong for most of the season, the introduction of Jesse and Jarrod has made it harder for him to get in.”

Moyes says he has been impressed with Lanzini’s application in training and believes he can play a role within the squad.

“I see him being an important part of the squad and team.”