West Ham United could be hours away from Jesse Lingard transfer decision after Wednesday development
West Ham United could now just be hours away from making a decision on Jesse Lingard with the forward set to feature in a behind-closed-doors friendly against Ipswich Town on Thursday (7 September).
6foot2editor Sean Whetstone tweeted on 6 September that the friendly against the Championship side will be the England international’s biggest test as he looks to earn a contract with the Hammers.
Writing on his personal Twitter account (6 September), Sky Sports journalist Pete Graves also reported the news after Lingard has been training with the Hammers all summer and his performance on Thursday could well determine his fate at the London Stadium.
The Ipswich friendly will certainly hand Lingard an opportunity to prove why he deserves to be handed a deal at the club after he is believed to have impressed in training in recent weeks.
The Secret Scout reported on their Twitter account on 5 September that Lingard has received offers from two Saudi Arabia clubs while talks have been held with West Ham United and Thursday is now the decisive day in Lingard’s immediate future with the Hammers now just hours away from making a crucial decision.
Moyes is keen to add to his attacking options having failed to sign a striker before the end of the transfer window and the England international seems the perfect free option to bolster their ranks again after his previous success.
The Athletic reported on 2 September that Lingard remained hopeful of impressing the Scottish manager and that the 30-year-old “could sign at any time” as a free agent.
The England international certainly endured a tough spell in the Midlands, failing to prove why Nottingham Forest paid him the big bucks to make him their marquee 2022 summer acquisition.
A hungry and motivated Lingard has proven to be one of the most exciting and effective players in the Premier League, as shown in his last campaign in East London where he managed 14 goal contributions in only 16 league appearances at the London Stadium during the 2020/21 campaign.
Whether Lingard can match those levels again remains to be seen, but Moyes knows him well and vice-versa and the London Stadium still presents the 30-year-old with the best chance of finding himself again.
A Premier League return for the former Manchester United forward could certainly be on the cards and an impression in Thursday’s friendly could go a long way in determining his fate.
In other West Ham news, a Sky Sports journalist has been wowed by Tim Steidten after signing a “top-six player”.