Tottenham Hotspur are considering a move for West Ham United target Jesse Lingard, a free agent after the expiration of his Manchester United contract.
According to Daily Telegraph, Tottenham Hotspur have joined the race to sign Jesse Lingard, whose contract with Manchester United expired on Thursday, June 30. West Ham United have had a long-standing interest in the England international and even tabled a lucrative contract offer to the 29-year-old.
A Manchester United youth product, Lingard first made a first-team appearance for the Red Devils in the 2015/16 season. He showed flashes of brilliance throughout his Manchester United career but was never able to sustain the form. Opportunities reduced gradually, and he was sent out on a six-month loan to West Ham United in the 2020 January transfer window.
Lingard flourished at the London Stadium, scoring nine times and assisting five goals in just 16 Premier League appearances. The Hammers wanted to sign him permanently last summer, but the Red Devils did not sanction a move, promising him an improvement in game time.
However, the club’s struggles under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer meant Lingard spent most of his time on the bench. West Ham came calling again in the 2021 January transfer window, with Newcastle United. But Manchester United blocked the move again, leaving the midfielder with no option but to see out his contract with the club.
In all, he made 232 appearances for Manchester United, scoring 35 times and assisting 21 goals. Now that he is a free agent, West Ham have approached him with a contract offer, but Tottenham are now pondering on a move as well.
Even though Spurs have added two wide players in Ivan Perisic and Richarlison, they are still eager to add depth to the squad as they prepare for a season in the UEFA Champions League. The former Manchester United playmaker will also add to their homegrown quota at Tottenham.
Lingard has admirers at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, with the north Londoners considering him a low-risk signing. He has ample Premier League experience under his belt and can also be used as an impact player, especially in domestic matches. But with West Ham also hot on his heels, it will be interesting to see what the future holds for the ex-Manchester United man.
