Tony Cottee suggests West Ham must sign Jesse Lingard
Tony Cottee has suggested that West Ham should sign Jesse Lingard in the January transfer window.
The England international impressed on a loan spell in the second half of last season where he netted nine goals and five assists in 16 matches.
He has struggled to nail down a first-team role at Manchester United, and he would be allowed to leave, either on free next summer or in January.
Cottee has suggested that he would love to see Lingard playing for the Hammers, but has warned that there will be no shortage of suitors for him.
“Personally, I’d like to suggest he returned to West Ham because he was fantastic here,” Cottee told Betting Expert. “That spell from January to May, he was creating goals and scoring goals.”
“And West Ham need a replacement centre-forward, I think if you signed Jesse Lingard, you’ve potentially got someone who can play, not as an out and out centre forward, like the Jamie Vardy role, but someone who can lead the line.
“I know Jarrod Bowen has done it a few times for West Ham, but I think Jesse will be much more able to play that centre forward role if Michail Antonio gets injured, so I want to see him come to West Ham.
“Lingard won’t be short of a few suitors. That’s for sure. I think he will move on in January and I hope he does because he needs to play football.”
Perfect
It is an open secret that West Ham need to sign a striker in January.
Michail Antonio remains the lone striker at the club, and there’s no competition for him.
Jarrod Bowen has been used as a makeshift striker in Antonio’s absence, but a proper striker is required.
Lingard will be in demand in the next transfer window. He has a contract at the club till the end of the season, and could be allowed to leave in January.
The Hammers are reportedly interested in signing him in January, and he would be a brilliant addition.
Although Lingard is not a conventional striker, but the 28-year-old can contribute with goals and assists.
He will be available on a cut-price deal in January, and the competition for him is expected to be high.
West Ham are fighting for a top-four spot this season, and Lingard’s addition will give them a huge boost going into the second half of the campaign.
In other West Ham news, UEFA took major financial action over the Irons on Tuesday.
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