Has the real reason Jesse Lingard chose Nottingham Forest over West Ham become crystal clear amid the David Moyes transfer blast?
West Ham’s year-long pursuit of Lingard came to an end last week after the Moyes favourite announced he was signing for newly-promoted Forest.
A host of sources had claimed Lingard looked set to join his preferred option West Ham where he enjoyed that sensational loan spell.
His posts on social media even suggested that would be the case.
But then Nottingham Forest came into the equation late on and Lingard ended up going to the City Ground instead.
The midfielder has been widely criticised and accused of chasing the money by joining Forest after reports he was offered £200k per week by the club of Brian Clough.
That criticism has been unfair, though, after those claims were completely blown out of the water by respected journalists at both The Telegraph and The Athletic who state he is on a base salary of £80k rising to £121k pw at Forest.
West Ham would have been offering the same kind of money.
So has the real reason Lingard chose Nottingham Forest over West Ham become clear amid the Moyes transfer blast we have seen since?
After a host of departures Forest have had to effectively sign an entirely new team with 12 arrivals already this summer.
West Ham were facing a big rebuild this summer and since Lingard chose Forest Moyes has completed his fourth signing with the stunning capture of Italy striker Gianluca Scamacca last night.
It was a big statement signing from West Ham.
And it comes amid a seriously exciting blast of transfer activity from Moyes as he hones in on several other top quality signings.
The Hammers are reportedly in talks to sign left-sided assist king Filip Kostic, attacking midfielder Piotr Zielinski and want Ben Brereton Diaz, who can play across the frontline, too.
Moyes is also hoping to sign central midfield powerhouse Amadou Onana. And he has been linked with Napoli attacking ace Hirving Lozano as well.
The signing of Scamacca means Michail Antonio will likely now be used more as a left-sided forward.
Lingard was used as a wide-left forward or in the second striker/attacking midfield role by Moyes at West Ham. And it is clearly his best position given the results.
Lingard and his representatives would have been well aware of West Ham’s transfer plans. Moyes is often praised by players for being up front and honest about everything with them.
Lingard would have wanted to know he was more or less a guaranteed starter before choosing his next club having spent two and a half of the last three years out in the cold at Man United.
So when Lingard was made aware he could be competing with Antonio, Said Benrahma AND potentially the likes of Kostic, Zielinski, Lozano and co for a pace in the West Ham team, who could blame him for going to Forest instead?
Indeed perhaps the 29-year-old should be praised instead of castigated for doing exactly what everyone has been telling him to for years – leave Man United for a club where he is playing week in, week out.
It is exciting times for both West Ham and Forest.
But fans of both clubs should take comfort in the fact that Lingard seems to have made a football decision and not a financial one.
MORE WEST HAM NEWS
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West Ham ready to use Yarmolenko’s wages to seal deal for Moyes target.
Moyes will be hoping Onana social media post is about West Ham move.
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