West Ham are said to be closing in on the signing of Manuel Lanzini on a season long loan from Al Jazira, repots Goal.
The 22-year-old attacking midfielder is deemed surplus to requirements at the UAE Arabian Gulf league side only a year removed from signing a four-year deal following a £6.4m move from River Plate.
Slaven Bilic was considering a loan swoop for the former Argentine U20 international, who scored eight goals in 24 appearances last season for Al Jazira.
However, it was reported last week that fellow UAE side Al-Sharjah were also considering a loan bid for the talented playmaker.
“Sharjah have shown an interest in Lanzini and the Jazira management is looking at the offers,” said a club source told UAE news outlet The National. “Of course, the player will have a say as well.”
Now, Goal understands that West Ham have agreed a loan deal with Al Jazira to take Lanzini on a season-long loan, and are able to meet his wage demands.
Owning an Italian passport, he would not require a work-permit either.
A club source told Goal “Everything is agreed, the player is now sorting things out but if everything goes according to plan he will be flying to England for a medical at some point this week.“
