West Ham loanee Jesse Lingard is reported to be of interest to Leicester City, who will ‘monitor’ the attacking midfielder’s progress ahead of a potential summer swoop, according to Eurosport.
Since joining on loan from Manchester United on deadline day three weeks ago, Lingard has been in scintillating form for the Hammers and has all but secured permanent transfer interest from the club.
However, without a clause in the deal to make the move permanent automatically in the summer, the Irons may not have things all their own way.
The 28-year-old has a history with the Midlands club having spent part of the 2012/13 season on loan at Leicester during a spell in the Championship.
Lingard’s parent club could yet opt to keep him after they extended the 24-cap England international’s contract a few weeks ago.
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There was always a danger this could happen given Lingard’s sensational form and the lack of an obligatory buyout clause in the deal.
Whilst the Irons will hope that the 28-year-old’s revival under David Moyes will stand the club in good stead when it comes to convincing him that the London Stadium is the right choice, Leicester look nailed-on for Champions League qualification, which could be a factor.
Lingard’s £9m market value will almost certainly be blown out of the water should he finish the campaign somewhere close to his current vein of form.
