Speaking on the Footballer’s Football Podcast, Michail Antonio has been discussing Jesse Lingard after he snubbed a move to West Ham in order to join Nottingham Forest.
The England international had been expected to join the Hammers for the best part of 18 months after an incredibly loan spell with the Hammers in 2021, but despite having an offer on the stadium from the London club this summer, Lingard has ended up at Forest.
The midfielder snubbed West Ham, leaving the clubs fanbase rather disappointed, and he’s also left Michail Antonio reeling as the Jamaica international was hoping to reunite with Lingard this season.
What’s been said?
Antonio discussed Lingard and his decision to not join West Ham.
“I definitely was disappointed, I’m not going to lie, he was quality for us he was a massive player he helped push us, he was one of the reasons why we did finish in Europe and we were looking forward to him and he’s a player we need right now. It’s a great signing for Forest and I put it down to that he wanted to go somewhere he can just play week-in week-out because at West Ham there’s loads of competition,” Antonio said.
Tough to take
Lingard snubbing the Hammers must be tough to take for many West Ham players.
Think about it, the midfielder seemed to be desperate to re-join the London club for the past 12 months, he was seemingly very close with a number of his ex-teammates, and as Antonio says, he’s a player they need right now.
However, for one reason or another, he’s joined Forest instead and West Ham are still lacking that creative goalscoring force in their midfield.
It remains to be seen who West Ham turn towards as their Lingard alternative, but they’ll be hoping they manage to do a better job than they did last summer when signing Nikola Vlasic.
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