His refusal to re-sign for the Hammers caused frustration among many fans – and certainly David Moyes – before rumours began circulating that he was making a switch to the City Ground purely for massive wages.
These were reported at one stage to be £200k a week but Lingard has made it clear that he was being offered fortunes from abroad.
Instead he decided to join the newly promoted outfit after they made it as clear as possible that they were ready to go as far as possible in satisfying him.
The former Manchester United and England star had been brilliant for the Hammers and as Moyes’ most admired transfer target he could easily have been expected to return to the London Stadium but this afternoon he will be in the red of Forest looking to put it over on us.
“I could have gone abroad for a lot, a lot, a lot more money, like life-changing money,” he told Sky Sports.
“So for me, it’s just nonsense really. I don’t really like to read into that stuff really, it was my decision.
“The owners were very strong in their approach to bring me here. They flew me to London, they went overboard to do what they could to bring me here.”