West Ham fans, buoyed fresh off the back of Jesse Lingard’s debut brace against Aston Villa, have now been handed a potential boost over the future of their new star.
The 28-year-old now looks to stay at the London Stadium ‘regardless’ of the nature of the loan deal agreed to bring him to David Moyes’ squad.
According to Claret & Hugh, an insider outlet with links to club officials, Manchester United ‘hedged their bets’ on Lingard by not attaching an option to buy clause to the deal – but West Ham could make a summer move ‘regardless’.
It is claimed that the board are prepared to back David Moyes with transfer funding in the summer and Lingard could be the first permanent deal to bestruck.
The source speculated that the 28-year-old would be available for around £10m, with the Irons having already forked out on a £1.5m loan fee and an agreement to cover the player’s wages for the duration of his stay.
In a consolation to the Hammers, Lingard never pushed for any wage increases in his loan move and worked diligently in training with the Red Devils’ under-23s to keep his fitness and match sharpness up to speed.
Interestingly, it is also claimed that Lingard will be due a £500,000 bonus if West Ham qualify for European competition at the end of the season.
Read West Ham Verdict
Talk of backing Moyes will never go amiss with loyal West Ham fans, and if Lingard’s on-field prowess against Villa is a sign of things to come, then jubilation should fill the air around the London Stadium.
The Manchester United loanee adds creativity, depth, experience, and plentiful goal threat to the Irons, and were they to qualify for Europe, bolstering their depth with Lingard is more of a necessity than a desire.
