Tony Cottee has told talkSPORT that David Moyes should start the January transfer window by targeting a return to West Ham United for Manchester United playmaker Jesse Lingard.
The Hammers hero believes Moyes will need to spend in the mid-season market to keep up the east Londoners’ form. But Cottee doubts the Scot will go crazy with any funds available.
West Ham fell out of the Premier League top-four after losing 2-0 at Arsenal on Wednesday night. The Irons had occupied a Champions League place since beating Tottenham Hotspur on October 24, before defeat at the Emirates Stadium marked their third loss in six games.
Moyes’ men had only last two of their opening 11 top-flight fixtures this season. But have since taken just five of a possible 18 points, with one win in six and five goals scored.
Cottee backs West Ham return for Manchester United’s Lingard
Part of the problem for Moyes in recent weeks has been losing star centre-halves Angelo Ogbonna and Kurt Zouma. The former sustained a likely season-ending cruciate ligament injury, while the Irons’ £30m summer signing faces 12-weeks out with a hamstring injury.
Michail Antonio is also enduring a barren spell, with the 31-year-old without a goal in eight league matches. He had scored six in nine games, including four in his first three outings.
Cottee would now urge Moyes and West Ham to spend in January and target a transfer for Manchester United’s Lingard. The Hammers hero would then go about eying centre-halves.
“He will go into the market,” Cottee said. “I’d like to see someone like Lingard, for example – who was fabulous last year. Get him back at the club and look at other options, as well.
“They will need to buy a centre-half because they’re really struggling with Ogbonna out and Zouma out for long spells. So, they’ve got to go into the market, but he will buy sensibly.”
Moyes eying Old Trafford swoop for England maestro’s return
Lingard offered Moyes nine goals and five assists in 16 games last season after joining West Ham in a mid-season loan transfer from Manchester United. He had not played a second in the top-flight during the 2020/21 campaign before moving to the London Stadium, too.
Reports by The Sun in November claimed the England star may be returning to east London next month, too. He was putting plans in place to re-join the Hammers in a £10m switch.
Additionally, Eurosport noted earlier this month West Ham believe they have a chance to agree a transfer with Manchester United for Lingard, so will open talks once the sales start.
Moyes also has centre-backs on his radar, as 90min report the Irons have made an enquiry into Lille’s Sven Botman. But Newcastle are pushing hardest to land the Dutch enforcer.
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