West Ham United look set to land Jesse Lingard permanently this summer despite interest from clubs in Italy.
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That is the exciting news reportedly emerging from a West Ham insider’s ‘senior sources’ at Manchester United.
Lingard has been a revelation at West Ham since joining on loan from Man United in January.
David Moyes is leading the Hammers to their best season for 35 years and they are right in the European mix with Man United.
Lingard has quickly established himself as a key player at West Ham.
And fans are desperate to see him signed permanently in the summer.
There is no pre-agreed option to buy in the loan deal between West Ham and the Red Devils.
But now West Ham insiders Claret & Hugh have claimed that senior trusted sources at Old Trafford have told them Lingard is likely to sign permanently thanks to his excellent relationship with Moyes.
Senior Man United source tells insiders that West Ham are in pole position to land Lingard
And that will be enough to fend off very real interest from Italian clubs Roma and Fiorentina as well as the likes of Leicester.
“Senior Manchester United sources believe the Irons are firm favourites to sign Jesse Lingard on a permanent basis because David Moyes “knows what makes him tick”,” Claret & Hugh has claimed in an exclusive.
“Our Old Trafford source told us: “Moyes is the main reason why Lingard has responded so well in recent weeks.
“There is a mutual respect between the pair and he knows what makes Lingard tick, with the player also in a hurry to enjoy his football again, rather than have his head turned by a club on the continent.”
West Ham must get deal done and not pontificate over fee – proven quality costs money
Claret & Hugh previously claimed West Ham would be able to land Lingard for between £10-15million.
But the new report states that fee is now likely to be more like £25m as Man United take advantage of the midfielder’s superb form.
That is a sizeable fee for a player with just 12 months left on his contract come the summer.
But West Ham almost have to forget about Lingard’s deal at Old Trafford and approach it like any other signing.
West Ham fans will undoubtedly be excited by the update.
But qualifying for Europe will only enhance West Ham’s chances of landing a player of Lingard’s calibre.
And Moyes has 12 games left to do just that.