Rio tells Irons not to fail on Lingard

Jesse Lingard has been urged to leave Old Trafford permanently by a former Hammers and Manchester United hero. Rio Ferdinand is becoming more and more forceful in his comments and appears to be in no doubt at all that the attacking midfielder’s day is done as part of the United scene.

The 28 year old has shown he can become an essential part of the Irons squad notably against Aston Villa and Sheffield United. And Rio reckons that the Hammers have to buy the player in the summer if his loan to us isn’t to be seen as a failure. It’s a pretty fair comment knowing how highly admired he is by David Moyes and were he not to it really would be a surprise.

In five words – the money has to be found to ensure he becomes an Iron.

Speaking on BT, Ferdinand said: “He has experience of being on loan at clubs, this is nothing new to him. I think more importantly what’s his ambition here, beyond this season. What is he looking to do?

“Because I don’t see him going back to Man Utd and really affecting that squad now. I think they’ve moved past him with the players they’ve recruited, he doesn’t feature and hasn’t done for so long.”