Three BOLD Predictions for Jesse Lingard at West Ham
By Adam Smith
The latest member of David Moyes West Ham team is former Moyes player Jesse Lingard. Here are three bold predictions for the new versatile player for his limited time in Claret and Blue.
First and foremost, the specifics and stipulations. Lingard joins West Ham on a six-month loan deal with no option or obligation to buy. Moyes has circled Lingard due to his versatility to play across the midfield and potentially up top too.
Lingard will play AT LEAST three positions
Naturally a central attacking midfielder, Lingard has some stiff competition when playing in the number 10 role at his new club. Currently, Said Benrahma and Pablo Fornals rotate pretty heavily between left-mid and CAM, adding fluidity to both positions.
Lingard has spent significant time at right-midfield, too. This bodes well for West Ham who only have Andriy Yarmolenko to support Jarrod Bowen at right-mid/wing. With the transfer market proving frustrating to attract a striker, Yarmolenko could be moved to striker allowing for more time on the right for Lingard.
Jesse Lingard also brings International experience to West Ham with 24 senior appearances.
As mentioned, the Hammers don’t really have a lot of options at striker right now. Michail Antonio is the starter but it is a toss-up after that with Yarmolenko and Mipo Odubeko next in line. Lingard offers an option here, albeit not a desirable one. He hasn’t had too much time alone at striker and could be better suited as a secondary striker if at all.
The most important area Lingard could factor in is at central midfield. Right now, Declan Rice and Tomas Soucek only have Mark Noble as cover. Lingard is used to a more attacking role, however, Moyes could reinvent him as a box-to-box player with responsibility on both sides of the ball.
Lastly, we have left-wing, Lingard’s most prominent position in his career. The Englishman has played a total of 103 games at left-wing and has a return of 24 goals and 29 assists across this experience. With Fornals and Benrahma rotating in and out of that position, it could prove difficult for Lingard to breakthrough here, but don’t count him out.