Football pundit Richard Keys has slammed Jesse Lingard for choosing Nottingham Forest over West Ham United.
West Ham’s year-long pursuit of Lingard ended in tears this week after the David Moyes favourite announced he was signing for newly-promoted Forest.
A host of sources claimed Lingard looked set to join West Ham this week.
And Lingard’s social media activity appeared to suggest that would be the case.
Nottingham Forest suddenly entered the equation and in 48 hours achieved what West Ham had failed to do in 12 months – get Lingard signed.
There has been claim and counter claim about the reason Lingard seemingly chose Forest over West Ham.
Rumours and reports have abound that the 29-year-old had elected to chase the money having been offered a staggering £200k per week by the club of Brian Clough.
But it later emerged the prolific TikTok’er is on nowhere near £200k pw at Nottingham Forest after his West Ham snub according to the likes of The Telegraph and The Athletic.
It is a move that has certainly raised eyebrows given how well Lingard fitted in at West Ham during that sensational loan spell.
And it seems there is plenty of criticism heading Lingard’s way over his decision to allegedly “snub” West Ham.
Richard Keys slams Jesse Lingard for choosing Nottingham Forest over West Ham
Former Sky Sports turned beIN Sports pundit Keys has been having his say on Twitter, describing Lingard as “bang ordinary” and suggesting he is motivated by money with a bag of cash emoji.
“Jesse Lingard is ‘bang ordinary’ to occasionally ‘good’ in a decent team – which (Man) Utd are not and he couldn’t get a starting place there,” Keys said on Twitter.
“It’ll be interesting to see how he goes in a struggling side.
“How on earth can he choose Forest over West Ham?”
West Ham face Forest in the second game of the season – their first home game back in the Premier League.
The former Hammers loan star will likely get a hostile reception from the travelling West Ham fans.
But they may see him sporting a different name on the back of his shirt it has emerged.