Former Premier League midfielder Rob Lee has predicted West Ham could face difficulty when attempting to prize Jesse Lingard away from Manchester United on a permanent basis.
Lingard was signed on a six-month loan deal on deadline day in February and has since gone on to be nothing short of a revelation for the Irons – scoring nine and assisting four goals in just 10 Premier League outings.
That scintillating form has led to calls for the Hammers to sign the 28-year-old permanently this summer, although reports have suggested there could be competition from Leicester City, Paris Saint-Germain, and Arsenal.
Lee, who played 18 times for West Ham during a brief spell in east London, has told Transfer Tavern that the attacking midfield ace has will have plenty of suitors.
I said the other day that the problem for West Ham getting Jesse Lingard on loan is that unless they’ve got some sort of clause, he’s going to play his way out of going to them. He’s been playing so well, that it’s not going to be a foregone conclusion that he will go to West Ham. I think he’s played too good for West Ham in a strange sort of way, because he’s now put himself in the shop window.
David Moyes has made no secret of a desire to keep the 27-cap star at the London Stadium beyond the end of the season – the Scotsman will hope the new lease of life in the capital will persuade him to stay.
Earning an average Sofascore rating of 7.40 – Lingard has been firmly among the best performers since arriving at the Irons.
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There will almost certainly be enquiries coming Lingard’s way given his sensational second half of the campaign.
West Ham will sit firmly in pole position, however, knowing perhaps the biggest threat to a deal is the parent club deciding to retain their man.
