Jesse had other reasons for his Manchester stay

Jesse Lingard decision to remain in Manchester was partially down to family reasons it has since been claimed.

Just before the transfer deadline shared a video of him trying to get some playtime in with his daughter at the swing set, but his daughter Hope told him ” No daddy, you can’t get on, you are too big”. The Manchester forward wants to be a good dad to his daughter and co-parent with his baby’s mother Rebecca Halliday.

Rebecca Halliday was Jesse Lingard’s girlfriend when she got pregnant and had a daughter with him. She is a fitness model and although she is not Lingard’s official girlfriend, they remain on good terms and have decided to co-parent together.

Halliday has official custody but Lingard is very much involved in care for his daughter and visits regularly.

During an interview with Daily Mail last year, Lingard said: “My daughter is one now. She takes my mind off a lot of things I’ve had to deal with. She is brilliant, a great part of my life. I just want to be there as a father to show her the right way. I want her to be proud.”

Maybe West Ham fans will be a little more forgiving if this is a true factor behind his decision not to join the Hammers.