Frank McAvennie: West Ham loan star Jesse Lingard is better than Marcus Rashford
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 claims West Ham loan star is better than Marcus Rashford and Antony Martial and adds he’s a must-sign for David Moyes in the summer.
Lingard, 28, has lit up the capital since joining the Hammers on loan from Manchester United in January, scoring eight goals and supplying four assists in nine Premier League appearances.
According to Sky Sports, “West Ham will do whatever it takes” to sign Lingard on a permanent basis from the Red Devils after his loan deal expires at the end of this season.
McAvennie is adamant his former club needs to sign the in-form England forward.
“Lingard and a striker – they are the two they’ve massively got to get,” McAvennie told West Ham Zone.
“I think there are other players they’ll sign but with Lingard, I don’t think he’ll want to go back to Man United because he was left out there and it’s hard to get back in their squad now. He’s really enjoying himself at West Ham.
“I think he’s better than Martial and Rashford, I really do. Everyone’s got an opinion and that’s what I think but to be fair, he wasn’t doing it at Man United. He was Jack the Lad, wasn’t he?
“But there’s nothing wrong with that but you’ve got to play on the park as well. He’s back enjoying it now and playing.”
When discussing Lingard’s reported £30million price tag [Daily Star], McAvennie added: “It’s gone up a lot since he came. It was £20million last time when he went out on loan. He’s doing well to get it up £10million.”
It will no doubt prove tough to sign Lingard in the summer.
Although he didn’t play in the league for Man United this season before joining West Ham, the Premier League giants will see Lingard’s form in East London and ramp up their valuation of him.
It could also attract other interested parties.
According to the Daily Star, Arsenal have already joined the queue for Lingard ahead of the transfer window reopening in the summer.
But if you were Lingard, who would you join? The has-been club that’s unlikely to qualify for Europe this season and may even finish in the bottom half? Or stay at your current parent club where you’re not getting any game time?
Or, would you stay where you are now because you know it’s a place where you shine, where you’re going to get regular minutes and where you might even play in the Champions League?
It’s a no-brainer, Jesse.
In other West Ham news, McAvennie has stood by this Irons ace after something “horrible” happened to him.