Bit-part Jesse Lingard is safe but set to be released by Nottingham Forest and must live with West Ham regret.
When Jesse Lingard snubbed West Ham for Nottingham Forest last summer it caused quite the stir in the football world.
West Ham’s year-long pursuit of Lingard came to an end when the David Moyes favourite made something of a shock announcement that he was signing for newly-promoted Forest.
The midfielder was widely criticised and accused of chasing the money by joining Forest after reports abound that he was offered £200k per week in a one-year deal by the club of Brian Clough.
Bit-part Jesse Lingard safe but set to be released by Nottingham Forest and must live with West Ham regret
That criticism turned out to be somewhat unfair, though, when both The Telegraph and The Athletic claimed he was actually on a base salary of £80k rising to £121k pw at Forest – less than he had been offered by the Hammers.
The blow looked to have been softened by West Ham’s record £51m move to sign Lucas Paqueta.
The Brazilian has taken time to adjust to English football but is emerging as an absolute star in a class of his own.
Meanwhile Lingard has been a failure at Nottingham Forest, making just 20 appearances – only 13 of those starts.
Now bit-part Lingard is safe but set to be released by Nottingham Forest and must live with his West Ham regret.
Lingard celebrates safety for social despite just 12 Prem starts
According to Football Insider, Forest are ‘not willing’ to table Lingard a new deal and are set to ‘part ways’ with him at the end of the season.
The report claims Steve Cooper views the whole transfer as a ‘failure’ and has already ‘informed’ Evangelos Marinakis and the rest of the hierarchy that it would be best if he was moved on.
Forest secured safety by beating Arsenal 1-0 on Saturday evening sparking wild celebrations on the City Ground pitch.
Central to them was Lingard, who could be seen laughing, joking and filming videos on his phone for social media.
But deep down Lingard must be regretting his decision to snub West Ham for Forest.
Deep down Lingard will be filled with regret after watching Hammers secure European final
Those celebrations on the pitch could have been with West Ham and for making a first European final for 47 years.
Indeed in less than three weeks, Lingard could be watching the team he should have joined lifting a trophy and getting ready for another season of Europa League football.
Earlier this season Lingard revealed the real reason his negotiations with West Ham broke down before he chose Nottingham Forest.
He said West Ham simply needed to show him more respect, claiming the Hammers tried to rush a deal through and issued him with ultimatums.
The Hammers have moved on, Lingard’s chance has gone and it would be no surprise to see him waste what should be some of the best years of his career in MLS now.
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