Agbonlahor: Jesse Lingard will want to sign for West Ham before 31 January deadline
Manchester United forward Jesse Lingard will want to re-sign for West Ham before the transfer deadline on Monday, according to Gabby Agbonlahor.
Lingard, 29, shone while on loan at the London Stadium in the second half of last season but despite barely playing this season, Man United are playing hardball over the England international’s future.
Even though his contract expires in the summer, Man United have told Newcastle they must pay £16million in fees just to sign him on loan for the rest of the season [Independent].
It is understood that Lingard feels let down by his boyhood club, who are pricing him out of a move.
The Independent added in their report on 26 January that West Ham have had an offer for Lingard rejected by Man United as their rivals in the battle for a top-four finish.
Ex-Aston Villa striker Agbonlahor feels it’s harsh on Lingard but does understand Man United’s stance.
“I feel sorry for him because, for me, Jesse Lingard will want to go to West Ham,” said Agbonlahor on talkSPORT on Wednesday [26 January, 08:40am], as shown on the radio station’s YouTube channel.
Ally McCoist clearly agreed, saying: “Yep.”
Agbonlahor continued: “But, if you’re Manchester United, no way you’re letting him go to your Champions League rivals.”
McCoist then said: “You’re right, Gabby. I tell you now, if West Ham were sitting 12th in the league, that move would be on.”
After host Alan Brazil dubbed Lingard as “brilliant” in his loan spell at West Ham last season, Agbonlahor added: “I think, at the start of the season, he probably fancied himself to get more game-time.
“But, when you’ve seen the season go on now, [Paul] Pogba’s been injured a lot and he’s still not getting starts.”
McCoist then said: “You look at Jesse and you look how far down the pecking order he is, whether it’s Sancho, Cavani or Ronaldo, Pogba, Greenwood, I just think now’s the time, he has to move.
“He’s got to go and play.”
Not happening
West Ham have made an offer. Man United have said no.
What else can we do?
It’s a surprise that the Hammers have gone back in to re-sign Lingard after he effectively snubbed a return to the London Stadium in the summer.
Lingard did so well with us last season that he played his way back into the England squad and was left feeling as though he’d be a regular for Manchester United.
However, the signing of Cristiano Ronaldo pushed him further down the pecking order at Old Trafford, where he never really stood a chance of playing regularly anyway.
We do feel sorry for Lingard and we do hope that he moves away from Man United because they are leaving him to rot there.
Newcastle have all the money in the world but Man United’s demands for a simple loan deal for Lingard are outrageous, especially when strengthening Newcastle doesn’t affect the Red Devils at all.
In other West Ham news, Dharmesh Sheth says the Irons want two new players signed in the latter stages of the window.