Achraf Lazaar’s move to Genoa collapsed on Friday after the Serie A side refused to have a purchase clause included in his loan deal.
Rafa has since commented that the club will look to offload the player to one of the countries where the transfer window is still open until August 31st.
Considering the lack of depth at left-back, some fans on Twitter are surprised by the manager’s reluctance to give the 26-year-old another chance:
Got to be better the manquillo
— tony Elvin (@schindlerelvin1) 19 August 2018
He hasn’t had a chance in the first place!!!
— NUFC Archive (@NUFC_Archive) 19 August 2018
Well, he’s a far better option the Dummett
— Paul Dodds (@Paul_Dodds) 19 August 2018
Keep him over Manquillo any day of the week.
— kevy fitz (@kevymartins) 19 August 2018
Another chance he hasn’t had one!
— Garry (@GarryBerryman) 20 August 2018
When we first signed him I was buzzing because he looked so promising but I can’t even remember the last game he played in tbh
— james delaney (@notoriousdelboy) 20 August 2018
After watching Manquillo and Hayden at RB, can’t hurt him having a go with his wrong foot on the right. Works ok for Ritchie and JM isn’t worthy of wearing the U’23’s shirt
— Matt Fidler (@matt_fidler) 19 August 2018
Don’t think he’s really had a chance has he? Never seen him play in a league game have we?
— Allon (@Allon89897180) 19 August 2018
Others don’t think the Moroccan international is good enough:
The minutes he’s played I’ve seen. He isn’t up to this level in any shape or form. He even went back to Italy in a league he’s played in and couldn’t cut it. He needs to be shipped out quickly.
— Lambeth Mag @IfRafaGoesWeGo (@psad2) 19 August 2018
probably rafa’s worse signing. pure head scratcher.
— Peter Gallagher (@peter_gallagher) 19 August 2018
He wouldn’t get in the Spartans starting 11.
— Lewis (@Lew_Robson) 19 August 2018
No. Stop this now
— Steve Moorhouse (@stevejmoorhouse) 19 August 2018
Fullback is a major concern. DeAndre Yedlin looks set to return pretty quickly from injury, but with Javier Manquillo having to be taken off at half-time against Cardiff, the absence of understudies for both the American and Paul Dummett are obvious.
With no way of bringing in any new signings, keeping Lazaar until January does look like a credible option, but Rafa’s keenness to get rid of the player suggests there is very little chance of that happening. He must really not rate him.