Jesse Lingard West Ham trial cost club ‘thousands’ before Al Ettifaq switch
Jesse Lingard’s trial at West Ham United cost the club “thousands of pounds” before he opted for a trial in Saudi Arabia, according to the Daily Mail.
The newspaper reported online (28 September) that the club covered the cost of the free agent’s hotel and transport during his six-week trial at the Hammers’ training ground.
Lingard opted to take the opportunity to have a trial in Saudi Arabia with Steven Gerrard’s outfit Al Ettifaq.
Frustrating
Many Hammers fans were excited about the prospect of Lingard rejoining the club, but the Englishman could be the latest player to make the move to the Middle East.
The Mail also reported (4 September) that the Irons were preparing to offer the 30-year-old a short-term contract during the recent international break after this Nottingham Forest contract expired, but this now will not come to fruition.
Lingard had a dream loan move to the London Stadium in 2020/21 after joining in January from Manchester United, netting nine goals and earning five assists in 16 appearances.
Hammers fans got their first taste of frustration from the former England international when he scored an 89th-minute winner at Old Trafford for the Red Devils against the Hammers the season after his loan. Further frustrations came when Lingard rejected a Hammers’ offer to rejoin after his Manchester United contract expires, with David Moyes confessing he was “surprised” by his decision, as quoted by FootballLondon (5 August 2022).
This news is just the latest way Lingard has frustrated the fans, but clubs have plenty of minor player-related outgoings and “thousands of pounds” is a minimal expenditure for a club the size of the Hammers.
Fans could understandably feel a sense of betrayal that their former star utilised their facilities and cost the club unnecessary money, but there would be plenty of behind-the-scenes discussions that no one is privy to.
Lingard must be held in high regard by the club, otherwise, they would not have let him use their facilities or offer him a trial, but his next chapter could be a long way from East London.
In other West Ham news, Emerson Palmieri has sent the Hammers squad a “can do better” message.