WHZ View: What can Lingard bring to West Ham with deal reportedly close?
West Ham are reportedly set to complete the signing Jesse Lingard on loan from Manchester United until the end of the season.
That’s according to Sky Sports, who report on their website that a deal between the two clubs had been agreed.
The Englishman hasn’t featured this season in the Premier League but could go into the Hammers squad to face Liverpool this Sunday. He’s played just three times during 2020/21, twice in the Carabao Cup and once in the FA Cup.
David Moyes will welcome Lingard, 28, into the squad having previously managed him at Old Trafford back in 2013.
West Ham Zone have listed three things that Lingard can bring to the side as we push for European football next season.
Experience
Lingard has played 133 Premier League games in his career so far. This may not seem like an awful lot, but his experience playing in the World Cup will be a big bonus to the squad.
The midfielder played a pivotal role as Garth Southgate took England to the semi-final in Russia 2018, starting 6 of our 7 games.
During the tournament, Lingard assisted against Sweeden in the quarter-finals and scored a belter against Panama in the group stage. Overall, he completed 91.5% of passes successfully and 71.4% of dribbles [Wyscout].
He was one of the shining lights in a very successful England side.
Creativity
Having gone from a United and England regular just a couple of seasons ago to a forgotten man has been tough on Lingard.
If he wants to get back into Southgate’s plans for the European Championships he’ll need to prove himself very quickly.
During the build-up to the 2018 World Cup, Lingard scored eight and assisted five times in the Premier League whilst creating 26 chances. It was this for that got him as a national squad regular.
Hunger
Aged 28, the attacker is now entering his prime years as a footballer. No doubt he’ll be hurt by being left in the cold at his boyhood club. Lingard will be out to prove his doubters wrong.
Sir Alex Ferguson famously said he knew Lingard wouldn’t be ready for the first team until the age of 23. He spent over ten years at Manchester United before getting an opportunity and never once lost his desire to play.
When given his chance, he became a vital component in Louis van Gaal’s side and scored the winner at Wembley in the 2016 FA Cup final.
It’s this sort of determination that will make him a success in a West Ham side pushing new boundaries this season.
In other West Ham news, this club legend is pleased with our recent signing.