Report: West Ham in six-club battle to sign Jesse Lingard
West Ham are interested in signing Manchester United’s Jesse Lingard this month, according to ESPN.
They face a tough battle to land his signature, though, as the report suggests six other clubs from around Europe are considering a move for the 28-year-old.
Man United are yet to decide whether the midfielder is available this month with Marseille, Porto, Inter Milan, Nice, Tottenham Hotspur, Sheffield United all linked.
David Moyes worked with Lingard while the pair were at Old Trafford and that could play a pivotal role in attracting him to East London.
Big gamble
It would not be a surprise if Lingard is made available for by the Red Devils this month. Although Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has described him as ‘top class’ in the past, the England international’s career is on a downward trajectory.
A return of just four goals and two assists last term shows he is experiencing a big downturn in form, and it is not surprising he has struggled for game time in 2020/21.
West Ham need goals from midfield but it is unlikely Lingard would be an upgrade on either Jarrod Bowen or Pablo Fornals since he has scored just 18 Premier League goals in his career.
There may be a good player in there somewhere, but it is questionable if Lingard would fit into our system.
David Moyes requires organisation and good teamwork from his players, and that would make this signing a considerable risk.
A loan move may be beneficial to both parties but Lingard’s reported wages of £75,000 a week are steep.
It is all well and good trying to resurrect a player’s career but we have been down that path countless times with limited success, and that means we should focus on different targets.
In other West Ham news, Moyes has provided a fitness update on a key man ahead of the West Brom clash.