West Ham United manager Slaven Bilic has claimed that Manuel Lanzini has many similarities to Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric.
Bilic worked with Modric during his time in charge of Croatia, and he believes that his skills can be seen in Lanzini, who joined the Hammers on loan from Al Jazira in the summer.
The 22-year-old Argentine has quickly become a key player in the West Ham side, scoring twice in his seven Premier League appearances.
"I have never seen a player who reminds me of Luka Modric as much as Manuel Lanzini," Bilic wrote in his column for the Evening Standard.
"Luka is my favourite player. He is my prototype of a great midfielder. I put Luka in the Croatia Under-21s and then in the senior team and we have a special kind of bond. But Lanzini has the same kind of qualities.
"I wanted to sign him for Besiktas but it didn't happen because the club received a better offer and he ended up at Al Jazira in the United Arab Emirates. But this time we got him at West Ham."
Lanzini is expected to start for the Hammers against Chelsea on Saturday afternoon.
Callum Mulvihill
