Frank McAvennie urges West Ham to ditch Jesse Lingard pursuit
We’re delighted to welcome former West Ham United striker Frank McAvennie as our exclusive columnist. Each week he’ll be giving his views on the biggest talking points at the London Stadium…
Frank McAvennie has urged West Ham to give up the pursuit of their former loan star Jesse Lingard and concentrate on signing alternatives this summer.
The 28-year-old attacker starred for the Irons during the second half of the 2020/21 campaign after arriving from Manchester United on a temporary basis, scoring nine Premier League goals and registering four assists to help the east London side to a sixth-place finish, securing Europa League football.
It was widely expected that Lingard would join West Ham on a permanent basis, but that looks increasingly likely with Sky Sports reporting earlier this week that the Irons believe they have just a 10% chance of signing him.
When asked whether it was time to drop out of the chase to sign the England international, former Irons star McAvennie was assertive in his response.
“I think so,” he told West Ham Zone. “I think he’s made the wrong decision.
“I can tell you right now he’s got no chance of becoming a regular first-team player at Manchester United, not a chance. So if he wants to stay there and sit on the bench and lose his England squad place then fine.
“He’s not the guy I thought he was. I thought he was enjoying himself, he did very, very well for West Ham so thanks very much for that, but it’s time to move on and get someone else now.”
West Ham Zone View
It seemed obvious that Lingard would want to return to the London Stadium this summer after enjoying a career renaissance earlier this year, but that loan spell has obviously reignited his desire to play at the top and represent his boyhood club.
Time will tell whether that is a move to be commended and he can force his way back into their starting XI on a regular basis, but looking in now, it appears a strange decision given the likes of Bruno Fernandes and Jadon Sancho who are guaranteed to start the big games.
In other West Ham news, Roshane Thomas has delivered an update on this Euros star after a Friday report of an Irons bid.
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