---
title: "Stuart Pearce admits desire to sign Jesse Lingard is an ‘open secret’"
canonical: "https://readwestham.com/2021/08/16/stuart-pearce-admits-desire-to-sign-jesse-lingard-is-an-open-secret/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Dan Clubbe"
section: "West Ham News"
published: "2021-08-16T14:00:00Z"
modified: "2021-08-16T14:00:00Z"
---

# Stuart Pearce admits desire to sign Jesse Lingard is an ‘open secret’

[West Ham](https://readwestham.com/2021/08/16/virals-david-moyes-convinced-west-ham-will-sign-a-defender-this-summer/) first-team coach Stuart Pearce has admitted the club still hope to bring [Jesse Lingard](https://readwestham.com/2021/08/12/virals-manchester-united-reportedly-open-to-sale-of-jesse-lingard/) back to the London Stadium.

The 28-year-old attacking midfielder has returned to Manchester United following a [successful loan spell](https://www.sofascore.com/player/jesse-lingard/205508) in east London during the second half of the 2020/21 campaign.

Previously Irons’ boss David Moyes has [claimed](https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/west-ham-transfer-news-jesse-lingard-man-utd-david-moyes-hope-b935221.html) there was ‘hope’ Lingard may return on a permanent basis.

However, having [featured for the Old Trafford club](https://www.skysports.com/football/news/12040/12358532/jesse-lingard-part-of-man-utds-plans-for-new-season-says-ole-gunnar-solskjaer) during pre-season, the chances of a return to the Hammers had looked slim.

Speaking to [talkSPORT (16/8/21 9:10am)](https://talksport.com/radio/listen-again/1629090000/1629100800/), as cited by [Louis (West Ham Central)](https://twitter.com/central_louis) on Twitter, Pearce confirmed the club still ‘want’ to bring the England man back.

> Twitter: Stuart Pearce on Jesse Lingard:
>
> “Of course we want Jesse back it’s always been an open secret. We’d love to see hi… https://t.co/6jssPfoiEP (@central\_louis)

Lingard [scored nine and assisted five other goals](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/jesse-lingard/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/141660) in just 16 Premier League appearances for the Hammers last season and helped fire Moyes’ side to [Europa League qualification](https://www.whufc.com/news/articles/2021/may/23-may/west-ham-united-qualify-uefa-europa-league-final-day-win-over#:~:text=Match%20Report-,West%20Ham%20United%20qualify%20for%20UEFA%20Europa,final%2Dday%20win%20over%20Southampton&text=A%20first%2Dhalf%20brace%20from,for%20the%20UEFA%20Europa%20League.).

### READ WEST HAM VERDICT

Valued at £19.8million and under contract until 2022 in Manchester ([Transfermarkt](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/jesse-lingard/marktwertverlauf/spieler/141660)), previously a fee of £30million has been [mooted](https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/manchester-united-lingard-asking-price-21043887) to land the versatile ace.

Capable of playing in a [host of advanced positions](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/jesse-lingard/leistungsdaten/spieler/141660), Moyes utilised the Warrington-born man as a false nine and in-behind Michail Antonio at times last term – a role occupied by Said Benrahma against Newcastle United.

Unseen during an [opening day 5-1 demolition](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/58124893) of Leeds United, West Ham must surely be confident a move could still play out in the final days of the transfer window.