West Ham will ‘definitely’ try to sign Jesse Lingard on a free transfer in the summer, according to journalist Pete O’Rourke (via Give Me Sport).
The Lowdown: Lingard transfer saga
Hammers fans have suffered through a whirlwind transfer saga involving Lingard since the end of his loan spell at the club last season. The attacking midfielder scored a sensational nine goals and produced five assists in just 16 appearances with the east London side.
The Manchester United man’s contract is set to expire in the summer, meaning he can walk away on a free transfer come July.
Both the Irons and Newcastle United were interested in the 29-year-old in January. The Englishman made it clear that he wanted to join David Moyes’ side and it looked like a deal was close to being done.
However, Manchester United pulled the plug at the last second, opting to keep hold of the player until the end of the season.
Michael Carrick has hailed his former team-mate as a “unique” presence in midfield, and it appears he will be taking his talents elsewhere as a free agent this summer.
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The Latest: O’Rourke insists Hammers will try to sign Lingard
Speaking to Give Me Sport, O’Rourke has insisted that West Ham will almost certainly try to sign Lingard on a free transfer in the summer. He proclaimed:
“Lingard will be waiting until the summer to go on a free transfer and I’m sure West Ham will definitely be in the mix for him then.”
The Verdict: Strong possibility
A long list of suitors, many being in the Premier League, will be trying to convince the midfielder to join their club in the summer, given his top-flight and international experience.
Given the fact that he informed his club that he wanted to join the Hammers though, it would not come as much of a surprise to see the Hammers winning the race.
With the likes of Antonio Conte’s Tottenham interested in the signing, it will be no easy deal for Moyes’ side to get across the line, but fans will have to hope he values the right fit from a footballing point of view more than his wage packet.
In other news: David Moyes optimistic about Kurt Zouma’s injury
