‘Don’t see him going Liverpool’: Paul Merson makes claim about 8-goal star wanted by Arsenal

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Paul Merson told Soccer Saturday on Sky Sports (10/04/21 at 1:25 pm) that he cannot see reported Arsenal target, Jesse Lingard, going to a Liverpool as he urged him to join West Ham on a permanent basis this summer.

Only nine Premier League games for Lingard, so far, this term, yet his eight goals and four assists at West Ham have started to gain a lot of attraction.

The Sun has claimed that Arsenal want to sign the 28-year-old this summer, with Mikel Arteta planning a ‘shock raid’ for his signature.

Of course, West Ham, who are watching him dance past opponent after opponent since his arrival in January, will have something to say about that.

And Merson feels Lingard’s next destination has to be West Ham because he cannot see any of the top four or five teams wanting to secure his signature.

“I don’t see him going back to Manchester United,” said Merson. “He wants to play football. He has gone to West Ham to play football.

“Now that he has got the love back. I think he lost a bit of the love for the football. I think he lost his way a little bit. Now, he is playing football.

“No point going back to Man United and playing in the Carabao Cup games – it’s going up every week (his price-tag). That’s the problem. He’s scoring goals and he’s making goals.

“If I was him I would (go to West Ham). I think he ticks the box for him. He’s a star man there. He gets a lot of the ball. They play to his strengths. I think it works for him. It’s perfect for him.

“Without being disrespectful, I don’t see anybody. I don’t see him going to Liverpool. He’s already at Man United and doesn’t get a game. He’s not going Chelsea or Man City. I think West Ham tick the box. Great move for both parties.”

Whether it’s the London Stadium or the Emirates Stadium, it has been Lingard’s dance floor since he switched Manchester United’s colours for West Ham’s in January.

It’s a pretty remarkable comeback from the light-footed playmaker, who was struggling to earn a place in Manchester United’s matchday squad prior to January, nevermind just struggling for minutes.

And at this rate, if Lingard helps the Hammers to Champions League football then he has to be a shout for Player of the Season even though he started producing the goods in January.