The now-former West Ham loanee Jesse Lingard has today taken to Instagram to mark the end of a successful loan spell at the London Stadium.
Having joined on transfer deadline day in February without any Premier League game time at parent club Manchester United in the first half of the season, the 28-year-old hit the ground running in east London.
Instantly installed into David Moyes’ side, Lingard bagged a brace on debut against Aston Villa and in truth never looked back from there.
Now, with nine goals and five assists in 16 games for the Hammers, speculation has turned to where the attacking midfielder could be plying his trade next term.
Moyes has already nailed his own colours to the mast regarding wanting Lingard to stay with West Ham – since being backed up by the ace himself on social media:
What a way to end the season. Reaching our goal with this incredible group of lads feels amazing! We pushed hard and never gave up! I feel so lucky to have been able to come into such a welcoming environment, everyone connected with the club has shown me just how special this club is. So thank you to the gaffer who had the belief in bringing me here. Thank you to all the staff that made it so easy for me to settle and embed into the club so quickly. Thank you to the coaches who helped me find my true self back on the pitch. Thank you to the fans who supported me from the second I arrived, It was amazing being able to play in front of you on the last day! And thank you to a special group of lads, as well as making some new lifelong friends training and playing with you all has been one of the highlights of my career! Whatever the future holds West Ham United will hold a special place in my heart!
A special mention for the Hammers faithful, 10,000 of whom got their first proper glimpse of the forward during the final day 3-0 win against Southampton.
With just 12 months remaining on his current deal at Old Trafford, this summer represents one of the final opportunities for the Manchester giants to land a sizeable fee for their asset.
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It would seem not even Lingard himself knows what the future will bring.
Given the obvious levels of enjoyment, surely West Ham will be at the forefront of his mind when it comes to weighing up options.
However, the main issues could still be around whether the Irons can strike an agreement with Manchester United – who it is believed will hold out for a top price for the £13.5million valued star.
Any potential deal will certainly be one to keep a close eye on as the summer develops, although Lingard himself will likely feature for England in the upcoming Euro 2020 tournament.
