Form Guide: Lanzini is West Ham's perfect Payet replacement

The long-running January transfer saga finally came to a head on Sunday as West Ham United at long last confirmed Dimitri Payet’s return to Marseille for £25m. The Frenchman excelled for much of his time in England, but had been hankering for a move back to the south of France and even went on strike to force through the move. At 29 years of age, the Hammers certainly did well to command such a fee for the France international, but what’s important is they re-invest the money accordingly to strengthen. 

West Ham have splashed the cash to bring in Jose Fonte and Robert Snodgrass this month and are still in the market for another striker before tomorrow’s deadline, yet there is reason to believe they need not spend the money on a player of similar ilk to Payet. Snodgrass may offer another attacking option for manager Slaven Bilic, but the Scotland international doesn’t provide the same vision as Payet. Rather, the Frenchman’s departure has offered Manuel Lanzini the chance to become the club’s creator in chief. 

The Argentine was a real hit for the Hammers following his loan arrival in the same summer as Payet as he went on to make 26 league appearances, 23 of which were starts, to earn a WhoScored rating of 7.21. While that return has tailed off – Lanzini’s rating this season has dropped to a 6.86 – his last two outings have suggested the 23-year-old is set to step out of his former teammate’s shadow and undertake the necessary duties to ease Payet’s departure. 

Payet’s final appearance for West Ham came in the 5-0 loss to Manchester City at the beginning of the month as a substitute in the defeat, meaning the attacker sat out the Premier League wins over Crystal Palace and Middlesbrough. Here, Lanzini undertook the creative duties with aplomb to score in the victory over the former and provide two assists in the latter encounter. His showing in the 3-0 win over Palace returned a WhoScored rating of 8.58 – his best in a Premier League match this season – while the performance against Middlesbrough saw him earn a rating of 8.46, his third best in a league game this term. 

He was evidently made to play second fiddle to Payet and understandably so. The Frenchman has made more key passes (74) than any other player in Europe’s top five leagues this season, with Bilic relying heavily on the creative star to provide for his teammates. Had West Ham signed a consistent striker over the summer, it’s likely the club would be in a better position in the table if there were a frontman capable of putting away the chances. Andy Carroll’s return to fitness is certainly a boost, but his injury history means the Hammers have lacked the consistent goalscoring frontman required to fire them up the Premier League. 

Of course, a fully fit Carroll has benefitted Lanzini, with one of his two assists this season coming for the striker’s first goal against Palace, but the Argentine now has the opportunity to shoulder the responsibility of creating the goalscoring chances of his teammates. He’s second to Payet for key passes played (28) of all West Ham players this term, seven of which have come in his last two outings without his former teammate featuring. 

With some West Ham fans believing Payet wasn’t pulling his weight in the final third, Lanzini’s return to his best form couldn’t have been better timed and suggests that he is ready and willing to fill the void left by the latter’s departure. An average of two successful dribbles per 90 further reinforces just how effective Lanzini has been while in possession for a second successive season, with his improving end product meaning Bilic still has at his disposal one of the league’s more productive attacking outlets. 

Losing Payet is a blow to West Ham, of that there is no doubt. A stunning debut season in England quickly endeared him to supporters, but the relationship rapidly turned sour, particularly after Bilic confirmed he wanted out of the London Stadium. His tumultuous exit, though, provides Lanzini with the perfect opportunity to establish himself as West Ham’s primary creative force with Bilic able to call on a readymade replacement in the final third.