West Ham United are reportedly closing in on securing Jesse Lingard on a permanent deal from Manchester United this summer.
According to Claret and Hugh, West Ham United are edging closer to signing Jesse Lingard after the player held talks with Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solksjaer to clarify his future. The details of the deal could emerge in the coming days as the transfer seems imminent.
Jesse Lingard has suffered at Old Trafford with a lack of game-time, and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer showing no confidence in his involvement. The Manchester United manager has relatively frozen him out from the squad since the arrival of Bruno Fernandes 18 months ago, while last summer’s signing Donny van de Beek effectively pushed Lingard out.
The England international took a loan opportunity to join West Ham and was brilliant during his six-month stay at the London Stadium. Lingard produced a tally of nine goals and five assists in 16 Premier League games for the Hammers, helping them qualify for the Europa League.
The London giants’ manager David Moyes stressed that Lingard could be a priority signing at the end of last season. However, the former Manchester United boss also warned his club would not pay over the odds for any player, with the club operating on a restricted budget owing to the pandemic hit season.
Moyes has since signed a new three-year deal with the club and looks set to prioritise Lingard’s transfer in this window. West Ham are also heavily linked with Chelsea’s Tammy Abraham after the Blues reportedly reduced his asking price. Both those signings will significantly boost West Ham’s quality for next season.
There were rumours of interest from other Premier League sides, including Arsenal and Leicester, in the past month, while Real Madrid also briefly saw their name being linked. However, Lingard prefers a move to West Ham, especially after Moyes signed his new deal. The Manchester United star is intent on leaving Old Trafford at all costs.
With a year left on his current contract, Manchester United certainly could cash in on a player they deem unwanted. The report suggests Lingard and Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer have discussed his future, and a sale might be imminent. Additionally, the signing of Jadon Sancho all but confirms Lingard’s out-of-favour status at Old Trafford.
How much West Ham are willing to pay for a player available on a free transfer next season remains unclear. However, the London giants will certainly want to lock in a cut-price deal for their priority target. On the other hand, Manchester United understandably are open to selling Lingard to the Hammers as they do not consider them direct rivals.