Are West Ham testing fans over potential signing as shock news emerges from Rush Green about Jesse Lingard?
If you thought the West Ham and Jesse Lingard saga had been consigned to history then think again.
When Lingard snubbed the Hammers for Nottingham Forest last summer and 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.
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.
Are West Ham testing fans over potential signing as shock news emerges from Rush Green about Jesse Lingard?
The blow of missing out on Lingard was softened by West Ham’s record £51m move to sign Lucas Paqueta.
But rather ironically one year on Paqueta could be set for a big money move to Manchester City while Lingard, now a free agent after being released by Forest, is back at West Ham as he trains with Moyes’ side – as reported by the likes of Sky Sports.
Are West Ham testing fans over potential signing as shock news emerges from Rush Green about Lingard?
Reports claim Lingard is being permitted to train with the Hammers as a gesture of goodwill in a bid to keep his fitness up.
But the likes of The Sun state he could be offered a short-term deal by his former club, where he shone on loan for six unforgettable months.
Lingard fired West Ham to within one win of Champions League qualification.
So could West Ham, who have announced the signings of midfield duo Edson Alvarez and James Ward-Prowse in the last five days, be testing the water with supporters as news of Lingard training with the team leaks to the press?
Hammers could be gauging fan opinion should Lingard impress during ‘training favour’
It is a well known tactic used by clubs – especially West Ham down the years – to release details of potential moves or interest to certain sources in a bid to gauge how it goes down with supporters.
If that is the case – not that anyone at West Ham would openly admit it – then one look at social media may see them ditch the idea.
Because the reaction has, on the whole, been one of incredulity.
Many West Ham fans have pointed out how ridiculous it would be to bring 30-year-old Lingard back following the appointment of ‘pearl diver’ Tim Steidten as technical director.
Although not everyone is completely against the idea. Some have pointed out that as a free agent, Lingard might give West Ham something different and inject some much-needed pace into the squad.
With the Europa League schedule to contend with too, the Hammers need a thicker squad.
And sometimes there are players and clubs – and indeed players and managers – which just click.