Manuel Lanzini and Fabian Balbuena are free to leave West Ham United this summer with the Sun reporting that the latter could return to South America after two years in the Premier League.
After another season of underachievement, who can blame David Moyes for wanting to trim the fat from a talented squad which stubbornly refuses to deliver?
Lanzini was one of the Premier League’s most influential attacking midfielders two or three years ago, with his visionary passing and long-range rockets lighting up the London Stadium in the post Dimitri-Payet era.
Injuries, however, have turned Argentine in a shrinking shadow of his former self.
Lanzini has failed to produce a single goal or assist in 23 Premier League appearances this season with his performances perhaps best described as ‘anonymous’ – and that is being kind.
Balbuena, too, has paid the price for a sudden drop in form.
The Paraguayan has started just one league game since gifting Sheffield United a 1-0 win at Bramall Lane after a horrifying lack of communication with David Martin.
As a result, Balbuena has been left on the bench for 11 of West Ham’s last 15 matches, thanks largely to the impressive form of Issa Diop and Angelo Ogbonna.
The Sun reports that West Ham will not stand in Lanzini or Balbuena’s way if they are offered the chance to rebuild their careers elsewhere.
The centre-back could end up back in South America, perhaps in an attempt to recreate those trophy-laden years with Brazilian giants Corinthians.
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