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West Ham have learned that Manuel Lanzini could be sidelined for fifteen months and will miss the entirety of next season. The Daily Mirror report the 25-year-old forward is devastated after learning the full extent of the injury.
Lanzini was called up to Argentina’s 2018 World Cup squad and ruptured knee cruciate ligaments during training with the team a week before the tournament started.
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West Ham have refused to put a date on the Argentine’s return, he recently started his rehabilitation in Barcelona.
Lanzini’s situation feels similar to Dean Ashton, who was never the same after breaking his ankle during England training in 2006 after a heavy challenge from Shaun Wright-Philips. Ashton was forced to retire aged 26, four years after the injury, his last professional appearance coming in September 2008.
This injury will alter Manuel Pellegrini’s transfer policy for next season, and it might be necessary to replace one of the stars of West Ham’s squad.