Making Jesse Lingard’s loan move from Manchester United permanent is West Ham United’s number one priority this summer.
Jesse Lingard drops biggest hint yet he wants to sign permanently for West Ham
And the ‘door is ajar’ to do just that according to a respected journalist.
Lingard has been a revelation for West Ham since signing on loan from Man United in January.
So much so he has earned an England recall after more than two years in the international wilderness.
Lingard’s massive impact at West Ham
Lingard’s influence on West Ham was highlighted by his absence in the defeat against his parent club last time out.
West Ham fans are desperate to see David Moyes sign Lingard permanently this summer.
Insiders such as ExWHUemployee and Claret & Hugh have claimed Lingard wants to stay at West Ham and the club will get the deal done.
Now Daily Mail journalist Ian Ladyman claims Man United have ‘left the door ajar’ for West Ham to sign Lingard.
Ladyman insists a deal may not be straightforward. But he insists West Ham must get it done for their ambition to be taken seriously.
Journalist claims Man United have ‘left door ajar’ for Hammers to sign Lingard but it won’t be easy
“Lingard’s standing at his parent club is strange,” Ladyman said in his Daily Mail column.
“He is not sure how much United want him, while the loan deal that took him to West Ham was protracted and more difficult than it might have been. West Ham are covering all of his £100,000-a-week wages.
“United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was complimentary about Lingard on Friday, but also said: ‘Jesse’s position is at No 10 and we have Bruno Fernandes there.’
“United will have Fernandes there next season, too. And the one after that.
“So if Solskjaer’s thinking really is as strangely one-dimensional on the matter as he makes out then it would appear there is an opportunity for West Ham.
‘It will be a hard deal to do but a statement transfer Hammers should be working on right now’
“The door to a permanent switch of clubs is not exactly wide open, but there is certainly a chink of light. It is time for West Ham to lean heavily on that door.
“It will be tough for clubs to spend big money this summer, after more than a year of playing in front of no paying customers. At West Ham it will be no different.
“But as they look to build on all that Moyes has achieved this season, they must do their best to behave like a big club would behave.
“It will be a hard deal to do, for sure. Other clubs will be interested, while Lingard only has a year left on his contract at United so knows that if he goes back and sticks around he will become a relatively attractive free transfer. He would still be only 29.
“Equally, Lingard knows a return to United would represent a risk. Another season of not playing for Solskjaer would see his status drop.
“For West Ham, he would be a statement transfer. They have gone big before — Javier Hernandez, Marko Arnautovic — but those signings lacked judgment.
“A permanent move for Lingard would be a big one. It would be courageous and it may prove beyond them. But if they really want us to take them seriously, it is a deal they should be working on right now.”
Exclusive: Giant crest from Upton Park to be sold overseas as owners refuse to buy it back for just £9k
Receive a digest of our best West Ham content each week direct to your mailbox
