Trevor Sinclair believes West Ham will miss out on Jesse Lingard, telling talkSPORT (26 January, 11.30am) that Manchester United won’t want to let the England international join a direct Premier League rival.
And, yes, that’s what they are these days. Direct Premier League rivals. Direct competitors for a top-four place.
As it stands, there is only one place – and one point – separating United and West Ham in fourth and fifth.
So letting Lingard return for a second spell at the London Stadium – especially after he performed so brilliantly in claret-and-blue last term – feels like a risk that just isn’t worth taking as far as Ralf Rangnick and co are concerned.
“I don’t think he’ll go to West Ham this window,” says Sinclair, the former Upton Park favourite.
“I think he would go (if he had the choice). West Ham would take him. But I don’t think Man United would pass him over to a rival for the top four.
“I actually think he’s gonna run his contract down. Whether he goes out on loan for three or four months and then goes to West Ham…”
Can West Ham still bring back Jesse Lingard?
Lingard has played just 88 minutes of Premier League football this season under Rangnick and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer respectively.
Questions, therefore, have been asked about why the 29-year-old did not push to stay at West Ham after playing the best football of his career under David Moyes.
“I was disappointed that he didn’t stay at West Ham,” adds Sinclair.
“Maybe he believed he would play his way back into the Manchester United team with his performances at West Ham. He might of thought; ‘Yeah, I’ve done enough’,”
“The fact that (Cristiano) Ronaldo went back to Man United, I think that had a factor in him not staying at West Ham. Which you can understand.”
Newcastle now appear to be the most likely destination for Lingard, who will be a free agent this summer. The £15 million-rated attacker has been in talks over a loan move, as reported by The Athletic.
And, unlike West Ham, United don’t have to worry about Newcastle snatching a Champions League place from under Rangnick’s nose.
“Possibly,” Sinclair says, discussing if Lingard could be a Newcastle player by February 1.
“I think he’d definitely give them a lot; goals, confidence, he’s got an aura about him.”
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