Jesse Lingard offered to Turkish giants as West Ham United transfer hits the rocks
Jesse Lingard has been offered to Turkish giants Fenerbahce, Galatasaray and Besiktas after a move to West Ham fell through, according to Ajansspor.
Writing on their official website (9 September), the Turkish news outlet report that the 30-year-old is a target for the three Istanbul clubs although Fenerbahce have rejected the opportunity to sign him.
Lingard had been expected to sign a short-term deal with the Hammers after spending the summer training with them, but Claret & Hugh reporting that Moyes is hesitating on doing a deal.
“Jesse Lingard is on the agenda of the Super League giants. Fenerbahce refused, Galatasaray is in talks. Besiktas also got involved,” they wrote.
“The 30-year-old number ten player was also offered to Fenerbahçe in recent weeks. The Yellow-Navy blue team rejected the star, whose departure from Nottingham Forest was on the agenda.”
No bother
If the club have decided against handing Lingard a new contract with the club, or he has decided to go elsewhere, then it’s not really a big deal.
As it stands our current options for the attacking midfield position are stacked anyway with all of Lucas Paqueta, Mohammed Kudus, James Ward-Prowse and Pablo Fornals capable of playing there.
While added depth and quality is never a bad thing, Lingard would only be able to play domestic football at this stage of things anyway and there would be big question marks about whether or not he’s the best option in the squad.
If he can offer something different and new to the squad then he’d be welcomed, but we have players better than him already and his form over the last few years means we’re unlikely to be missing out.
Let him head to Turkey if that is what he wants, it won’t be any skin off our noses.
In other West Ham news, Sky Sports pundit names Hammers trio in “surprise of the season” claim.