West Ham United are reportedly ramping up their efforts to secure the signing of Manchester United midfielder Jesse Lingard on a permanent basis this summer.
According to The Sun, Manchester United midfielder, Jesse Lingard remains firmly on the radars of West Ham United, who are now ready to step up their pursuit of the England international ahead of the upcoming transfer window.
A product of the Manchester United youth academy, Lingard had grown into a key player for the Red Devils but had slipped down the pecking order things quite a bit over the past couple of seasons. Having struggled for form and game-time, the 28-year-old left Old Trafford in January this year to join West Ham United on loan until the end of the season and enjoyed a massive turnaround of fortunes.
Indeed, Lingard was one of the best players in the Premier League during the second half of the 2020/21 campaign, as he plundered nine goals and five assists in just 16 games for the Hammers, playing an integral role in them achieving a top six finish and qualification for European football for next season.
Lingard’s form also saw him make a return to the England national team during the previous international break in March, although the 28-year-old was unlucky not to make the cut for the upcoming UEFA Euro 2020. While he may not have been able to convince Gareth Southgate to call him up for the Euros, West Ham are completely convinced that they want to sign him on a permanent basis before next season.
The report goes on to add that David Moyes & co. are now hopeful that a deal could be concluded swiftly with Lingard not travelling for the European championships. A club source told The Sun, “Jesse knows we want him, so hopefully the club will pursue him in the next month or so.”
Manchester United, West Ham or something even better – What’s next for Jesse Lingard? | THT Opinions
Lingard, for his part, is keen on moving on from Manchester United this summer and understandably so. The England international is behind Bruno Fernandes in the No. 10 role and with the club moving close to signing Jadon Sancho, he is unlikely to get many opportunities in the wide roles either.
With his contract with the 20-time English champions running out in a year, the time seems right for a parting of ways for everyone involved. What now remains to be seen is whether West Ham are able to come to an agreement with Manchester United for the signing of Lingard before the 2021/22 season starts or if the Englishman ends up joining a different team altogether.
