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.