Shropshire Star

West Ham manager Slaven Bilic hopes to fend off interest for Manuel Lanzini

The Hammers boss accepts no player is bigger than the club.

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Slaven Bilic says West Ham will look after key man Manuel Lanzini to fend off any interest before the transfer window closes, but warned “no player is bigger than the club”.

Argentina playmaker Lanzini is set to miss Sunday’s Premier League opener at Manchester United as he recovers from a knee problem picked up in pre-season.

The 24-year-old is on a long-term contract with the Irons, but nevertheless has been linked with a big-money move away as the clock ticks down towards the transfer deadline on August 31.

Bilic, however, revealed there has been on-going dialogue with Lanzini, who joined them initially on a season-long loan from Abu Dhabi club Al Jazira in 2015 having started his career at River Plate and then Fluminense.

“With Manuel, no player is bigger than the club in any way, I am not talking about contracts, I am just talking about that he is just one player. He is just part of the team like any other player, (like) even (Lionel) Messi (at Barcelona) and all of them,” the West Ham manager said at a press conference.

“But he is one of our key players definitely. He is a great lad and he knows his situation.

Manuel Lanzini has been linked with a move away from the Hammers
Manuel Lanzini has been linked with a move away from the Hammers (John Walton/EMPICS Sport

“I spoke with him last season a few times and at the end of the season, then also at the beginning of the pre-season. We are looking after him, that he is happy.

“It is a big season for year ahead of him. We know his situation and we are going to do everything possible to sort him out, although he has a long contract.

“But let’s be honest the chairman always appreciates those kind of situations and I know that the chairman activated his clause even before he had to, so he has already shown him how much we respect him and all that.

“He deserves from us to do it again, no doubt he is a key player and we are going to look after him.”

Bilic added: “Manu never showed me, any sort of things that he is unhappy. Then of course, every players wants to use their situation in the best possible way, but I know for sure that he is happy here.”

West Ham have been busy in the summer transfer market.

New signings Joe Hart, Pablo Zabaleta, Marko Arnautovic and Javier Hernandez are all expected to feature at Old Trafford where the Mexico forward will face his former club.

The Irons have been linked with the likes of Sporting Lisbon midfielder William Carvalho, at a reported deal of £27.1m, as well as Brentford’s Spanish playmaker Jota.

Bilic, however, does not expect too much more movement before the window closes.

“I am thankful and congratulate the board for the business we have done. We wanted more players to improve our first 11 and our game, and we got them,” he said.

With the London Stadium currently being used for the IAAF World Championships, West Ham’s trip to Old Trafford will be the first of four away games to open the new domestic campaign.

Bilic said: “It’s not ideal playing there first game of the season, but on the other hand, it is brilliant and one of the greatest away games in the league.

“They have improved the squad with quality and big transfers, so we will have to be on top of our game.

“We are missing players, it could be better for us but then, of course we are positive.”

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