West Ham United target Jesse Lingard close to Nottingham Forest deal in ‘surprising development’
Guardian journalist Jacob Steinberg has beeen told that West Ham target Jesse Lingard is “close to agreeing a deal” with Nottingham Forest.
The Hammers have been chasing the former Manchester United attacker for a year, since his successful loan spell at the London Stadium came to an end, and appeared to finally be closing in on their man after a breakthrough on contract talks [90min].
But it emerged on Tuesday that newly-promoted Forest had joined the race late [Guardian], and they may have actually won it at the last according to the latest update.
On his personal Twitter account late Tuesday night (19 July) Steinberg wrote: “Update on this … now told [that] Forest are close to agreeing a deal with Lingard. Not finalised yet but a fairly surprising development.
“As I say, nothing on this is finalised yet. Forest have offered Lingard a lot – and yet some there still think he ends up at West Ham…”
Unbelievable
If the breakthrough that Hammers fans and manager David Moyes had been waiting for after so many months is then immediately followed by a promoted side signing him instead it will be a hugely frustrating development.
Considering it has widely been reported that the England international’s wage demands were the sticking point for a long time it is possible that Steve Cooper’s side have suddenly decided to match them and that has turned his head.
In some ways it might actually vindicate Lingard’s stance of holding out for more than he appeared to be worth to the Irons or other suitors such as Everton.
It is likely to be his last big contract so he will want as much as possible, but unless West Ham were offering him something way below his expectations it is hard to escape the conclusion that the London Stadium makes the most sense for him.
He may not be able to replicate his output from the six months he spent at the club previously, but he knows the manager wants him and he knows he can be successful.
Much as fans have been hoping he would sign for some time, if he were now to arrive they are going to have significantly less patience with him, and some might even hope he does go to Forest.
Until he is signed and unveiled somewhere it looks like nothing is guaranteed in one of the more confusing transfer window chases this summer.
And if this one is to take a turn at the last minute it puts extra pressure on the race for Armando Broja which had also appeared to be nearing a positive conclusion.