West Ham should continue to monitor Cristian Pavon.
Manuel Lanzini’s knee injury came as a heartbreaking blow for the West Ham midfielder.
Unlike Argentina, West Ham have a bit more time to look at how they can replace the 25-year-old.
The obvious choice for the Hammers may be simply to do what Argentina may intend, and utilise Cristian Pavon.
Argentine outlet Clarin report Boca Juniors ace Pavon is most likely to benefit, and he is a player West Ham are already reported to have their eye on.
This was even before Lanzini’s injury, and West Ham’s need for the promising attacker is now heightened.
Pavon scored seven goals and provided 11 assists last season and could really make a name for himself at the World Cup.
It’s a tough one for the Hammers, as if he plays too well then interest from other teams could put him beyond their reach, with The Mirror recently linking him to Arsenal.
West Ham need him to do just enough to showcase his talent and not look out of place, without setting the tournament alight and inflating his price tag.
The 22-year-old is still a gamble, as seen by Jonathan Calleri’s inability to adapt from Boca to West Ham, so the price tag would need to be sensible.
How he performs in Russia will be intriguing, and for West Ham he has become more of a potential solution to a need rather than a luxury addition.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
