Wednesday 3 August 2016 14:56, UK
Slaven Bilic has revealed West Ham midfielder Manuel Lanzini will miss up to five weeks of the new season with a knee injury.
The 23-year-old sustained the injury while on international duty with Argentina ahead of the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio and has since returned to London for treatment.
Lanzini will miss the opening three matches of the 2016/17 Premier League campaign, but Bilic expects to have him back at his disposal for the home game against Watford on September 10.
Ahead of West Ham's first match at the Olympic Stadium against NK Domzale in the Europa League on Thursday, Bilic said: "Unfortunately that's another blow for us. He was not supposed to play tomorrow anyway. He was with us in the United States during our first part of the pre-season, he stayed there and we flew back to London.
"He joined the Olympic national team, but in a friendly game against Colombia he got a kick on his knee and got injured. It's not only a kick on his knee to be fair. It's not a big, big injury, but he can't play for the next four or five weeks.
"I think he's going to miss the first three games of the season, which is not ideal but not that bad. So, we think he'll be back after the international break following the Manchester City game."
West Ham are also seeking cover for first-choice left-back Aaron Cresswell, who was ruled out for up to four months after suffering a knee injury in the 3-0 pre-season victory over German side Karlsruher in July.
Sky sources understand the Hammers are in talks with Inter Milan over a deal to sign left-back Davide Santon on loan and have also had bids rejected for Norwich's Martin Olsson and Hull's Andrew Robertson.
"Even before Cress got injured we were looking to strengthen there but it's hard to find a good one, who we like and is willing to come to us," the West Ham manager said.
"Most clubs are looking for a left-back, now with Cress' injury that has become a priority.
"There a few players on our list and hopefully we are going to get one, but before we sign one or if we sign one, we are not going to discuss it openly. But we are looking in that position."
Sky sources also understand West Ham have bid £20m for Swansea forward Andre Ayew, while Argentine striker Jonathan Calleri is set to join the club on a season-long loan from Boca Juniors.
When asked about the deal to sign Calleri, Bilic said: "It's close and he's a good player. Like I said, the same goes with the players we want to sign for left-back, we are in talks but we are not discussing the transfer. We are trying to do them and then we'll talk.
"Like any other manager, chairman or director, we would like to do the business as quick as possible. But very rarely can you get it done quickly.
"It's a situation that we are all in. We have signed some really good players, we were very quick and active in the beginning or at the end of last season.
"Now with these couple of positions, it is not only us, it's the whole of Europe, who can afford of course, that are trying to get those type of players."
