Pundit stunned that Jesse Lingard picked Nottingham Forest over West Ham United
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 believes Jesse Lingard has picked Nottingham Forest over West Ham simply for the money and admitted the decision shocked him.
Lingard brought an end to one of the biggest sagas of the summer when he joined the newly promoted club on a one-year contract instead of re-joining West Ham as many had expected in the days, weeks and months prior.
And according to McAvennie, money is the only explanation for his decision as he’ll now be battling against relegation instead of fighting for European places as a big fish in a small pond.
“It’s obviously the money,” he told West Ham Zone. “I can’t believe that. There’s no way in a million years that Nottingham Forest are a bigger club.
“They’ll be fighting for relegation and good luck to him if they get relegated.
“I like Nottingham Forest as a team but they’re coming up, their priority next year will be to stay in the league. West Ham’s priority will be getting in the European places. Difference.
“He loved it at West Ham, but if he doesn’t want to play and he’ll want to go to Nottingham and try to be Charlies big bananas and it might not work.“
The Hammers have now moved on from Lingard after the disappointment of missing out on him, and are closing in on signing striker Gianluca Scamacca as well as targeting a new left-back and another central midfielder.
Lingard scored nine goals in 16 appearances during a six-month loan spell between January and May 2020, and it seemed inevitable he would return when his Manchester United contract expired earlier this month.
But fans were disappointed when he chose a more lucrative financial offer over a return to a club competing at the top end of the division, something McAvennie predicted last month.