West Ham have been involved in a transfer saga with Jesse Lingard for what feels like an eternity.
Ever since his exceptional loan move in January 2021, where he helped West Ham secure Europa League football with his scintillating form, speculation around him coming back permanently has never stopped.
Now he is a free agent after his deal at Manchester United expired, rumours have increased but the Hammers are nearly two weeks away from their opening Premier League game of the season, so is it time for David Moyes to move on from Lingard or ensure he gets his man?
Should West Ham do whatever it takes to sign Jesse Lingard or switch their attention to an alternative?
The latest we have on the saga is that the 29-year-old actually wants to join West Ham and has made it clear to the club, according to @ExWHUemployee.
However, the player and his father, who is his agent, are unsatisfied with the offer made by West Ham as they believe they can get more money elsewhere. For example, Nottingham Forest have reportedly offered him £200,000-a-week, much more than the £130,000 the Hammers have put down and the Irons aren’t willing to budge.
Lingard is loved by Moyes and he knows how to get the best out of him. He is also popular amongst the fans, although dithering over a move to East London isn’t helping. Lingard enjoyed his time living in London and has many friends in the West Ham dressing room such as, Declan Rice. He played his best football in years at the club earning him a return to the England squad, a move back to the Hammers makes sense on the field.
Yet the season is fast approaching with pre-season well underway and he appears still unsure on where he will be playing next.
The argument against signing Lingard is strengthening. The club should only sign players who actually want to play for West Ham, despite what he’s told the Hammers, his actions conflict that. His cryptic social media posts are angering fans who don’t want a soap opera, they just want to see him in training with the team. Plus, Lingard’s desperation to get a higher wage will further annoy people. The truth is, if football was his priority he should’ve moved to West Ham last summer, instead he wasted a season on the bench at Man Utd.
There also needs to be the acceptance from the West Ham faithful that he will never hit the form from 2021 again or he’d simply be one of the best players in the world, which we all know he isn’t.
This transfer is at a crossroads. Either the attacking midfielder chooses West Ham now or never.
The Hammers have been wise enough to have Lingard alternatives lined-up, expect to see moves on these players in a matter of days if they hear nothing positive from Lingard’s end.
In conclusion, the Lingard saga splits opinion but fans are bored of it now. Nobody is anti his return but sign for West Ham now or we will happily bring in someone else.