West Ham United signing update emerges on Jesse Lingard amid deadline day fitness news
Jesse Lingard is not going to be signing for West Ham on transfer deadline day because he isn't fit enough, according to 6 Foot 2.
The Hammers outlet's editor reported via Twitter on 1 September that the attacking midfielder won't get a deal "as things stand" after a "club insider" shared a fitness assessment that he isn't up to the "level required".
The 30-year-old has been training at the club after leaving Nottingham Forest and can still be signed after the deadline passes since he is a free agent.
The 32-cap England international spent a highly-fruitful second half of the 2020/21 season at the London Stadium but eluded David Moyes' attempts to bring him back from Manchester United subsequently before his move to the City Ground.
Fall back
Despite extensive links to more attacking signings with a series of strikers in the Irons' sights it is looking like a late deal for one might not happen.
Hugo Ekitike from PSG has emerged as the primary option with a massive fee apparently available to spend on him after Tim Steidten came back from Brazil without Yuri Alberto.
But if no goal scorer does come in before 11pm then it might leave Mohammed Kudus to play in a more advanced role given the versatile Ghanian spent plenty of time up front for Ajax.
That would allow West Ham to bring Lingard in at a later date to operate as an advanced midfielder instead, which will be far more necessary if Pablo Fornals departs before the deadline.
The fact that the Hammers have a game against Luton Town in the hours before the deadline has complicated the Spaniard's potential exit.
The outcome from Lucas Paqueta's FA betting investigation, where he denies all wrongdoing, also has a significant bearing on the situation but while there is time pressure on potential striker deal the Lingard signing can wait if it needs to.
In other West Ham news, the club are "furious" about a deadline day situation amid four possible first-team departures.