Stuart Pearce has told talkSPORT that Jesse Lingard will have his choice of clubs if he leaves Manchester United, amid reported transfer interest from West Ham and Tottenham.
Lingard is out of contract at the end of the season and will be able to agree a free transfer. He has rarely featured at Old Trafford so far this term, after Ole Gunnar Solskjaer ignored the England international’s services before the Red Devils fired the Norwegian last month.
Solskjaer only started the 28-year-old in one of his nine appearances in all competitions for a total of 154-minutes. Yet Lingard still offered two goals and one assist over his outings.
Lingard’s goals under Solskjaer included netting the winner for Manchester United at West Ham. His assist also created Cristiano Ronaldo’s Champions League winner over Villarreal.
Reports by The Telegraph claim West Ham intend to play on Lingard’s uncertain future at Manchester United in January. The Hammers have kept close tabs on his situation after a standout loan spell at the London Stadium last season. He scored nine goals in 16 games.
But the Irons could face competition from their London rivals. ESPN cite Tottenham among a host of clubs tracking Lingard, who could have requested a loan before Solskjaer’s exit.
Since then, 90min noted Lingard – who The Sun claimed was planning to join West Ham in a £10m January transfer – will wait and see what may lie ahead at Manchester United.
Pearce shares view on Lingard future amid West Ham, Tottenham transfer interest
West Ham assistant coach Pearce expects Lingard to consider his future at Manchester United after losing his place in the England squad, having won it back in claret-and-blue.
But the Irons coach notes the only certainty is that he is a Red Devils player right now.
“I think Jesse, from what he showed last year, will be linked with varying clubs and there’s no doubt about that,” Pearce said. “The frustrating thing for him is that he came to us, played really well and managed to get himself back into the England fold again.
“He’s dropped out of it at the moment and dropped out of the England fold, as well. From his point of view, I’m sure he will be looking at the World Cup in less than a year’s time and thinking, ‘what do I have to do and where do I have to play my football’.
“All we know is he’s a United player at the moment. I think he’s out of contract next summer and I’m sure he’ll have one or two suitors. He did himself no harm coming to us when he did and the form he showed.”
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