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Lingard moves an odd strategy

West Ham are back in for Jesse Lingard ahead of the summer transfer window, it has been confirmed to ClaretandHugh.

The Guardian reported this morning that the Hammers are considering a potential swoop to bring the attacking midfielder into the club.

Lingard is set to leave Manchester United upon the expiration of his contract and is set to be available on a free transfer.

Our own northern man Terry Robbins confirmed this morning that all the talk on Manchester United’s training ground is that the player has received a direct offer from us.

Newcastle are understood to have pulled out of the race to sign Lingard, meaning his wage demands may well have fallen as a result.

Lingard was a target last summer and in the January transfer window but the Hammers have consistently been frustrated in their bid to bring the star back following his exceptional loan spell at the club.

Still, the Irons are hoping that it will be third time lucky.

ClaretandHugh says: Lingard is 29. He will be turning 30 in December and this just doesn’t seem to make any sense from a strategic point of view. We have to look at what will happen when players look to move on from the club and even handing Lingard a two-year contract would mean that he is essentially unsellable. He will be too old, and there will be absolutely zero money to be clawed back. Let’s remember too, that this isn’t a free transfer. Lingard will potentially be earning as much as £100,000-per-week. That’s £5.2m a year. On a two-year deal, that’s £10.4m and that’s before any kind of signing-on fee or bonuses. Given that there’s absolutely no sell-on fee, we’ve got to wonder if this is worth doing.

 

About Dave Langton

A journalist with 10 years' experience of working on National newspapers, now chief reporter covering the club that I've loved since I was a boy. Upton Park remains the greatest football stadium ever built.

9 comments on “Lingard moves an odd strategy

  1. He is not the sort of signing we should be making. A terrible reflection on our recruitment team what are we paying them for if this is all they can come up with. We have an aging squad which needs youth, pace and hunger.

  2. Would be a smart move. Get 4 years out of him and an immediate boost for the current players seeing a bloke who they already know can improve the team walk through the door. Never underestimate the psychology of it all.

  3. You say that but he hasn’t played much. He shouldn’t be burnt out like most 30 year olds. It also gives Moyes that false 9/extra forward he’s been searching for. He’s also great around the place. Also he’s superb in the counter which we have missed this year. I think it’s still a great singing personally and hope it happens.

  4. Lingard did sensationally well for us in the initial part of his loan spell as we all know and it’s hard to expect a repeat of that exceptional performance. In the latter stages of his time at the LS he was often nowhere to be seen and should have been subbed but Moysie seemed reluctant to do so. Since then he’s had very little game time under 2 Managers at Man U which suggests he hasn’t been setting things alight in training.
    Lingard seemed to get on well with the lads at West Ham but has shown no real desire to return despite reported opportunities. Who really knows what goes on behind the scenes at any club and I don’t want to do the bloke a disservice but I’d give him a wide berth and go for more ambitious signings wherever possible.

  5. i’m pretty sure they are not signing a 29 year old with a view to selling him on , he is being signed to play for west ham . this notion that 29 is old is so outdated . juventus bought ronaldo for 100 mil at 33, and you worried about a bosman at 29 ! haha he clearly keeps himself in great condition given how he hit ground running with us having not kicked a ball in months.

    we so clearly we lacking good attacking options in final part of the season with players either out of form or running on fumes having to play . fornals , benramha, lanzini for all their attributes are all one paced. lingard as we saw can run beyond and join striker in attack. him on a free is a no brainier, every player gets a sign on fee.

  6. I hope he rejoins us, he gives us something that Moyes doesn’t have, a player that thinks quickly, moves instinctively rather than in the Moyes mould of always be in shape and out of position, Lingard sees opportunities based on whats in front of him, he is an upgrade on Vlasic, Benrahma, Lanzini he creates and scores important goals if we have him for 3 or 4 years that would be great as am confident he will add a much needed dimension to our forward play that may make us more attractive to watch and help us beat teams like Brighton, Leicester, Tottenham and Arsenal those teams that are in and around us, fingers crossed we get him and early.

  7. You cannot have enough creative players. Lingard is an outstanding talent, and the fact ManU haven’t had the gumption to make use of him isn’t a reflection on him, but rather the sad state of affairs at ManU. They were muppets not to let him go in January.

    As for what he brings, well it’s clear from the first spell what he offers us. He was one of the best players players in the Prem during his time with us.

    With Bowen, Lanzini, Benrhama, Antonio and Lingard all able to offer real attacking threat, with Cresswell, Soucek, Coufal and Rice all able to chip in with goals too, there won’t be any shortage of chances, assists and entertainment.

    With European football again this coming season we need to have a bigger squad too. And assuming we bring in an out and out striker too, that leaves central defence, gk, and possibly a holding midfielder.

  8. What an odd article. Moyes has been trying to get Lingard back constantly since his last spell. Is he better than Bowen? Maybe not. Is he better than Vlasic? Yes. Is he better than Benrahma? Yes. … and while he won’t be competing with him next season, our option from the bench the last 10 games has been Yarmolenko. Is he better than yarmolenko… I don’t need to answer that.

    He matured late, not playing first team until into his 20s, will probably be playing til he’s 35 and should be playing the best football of his career over the next 3 years.

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