The prospect of West Ham United offering Jesse Lingard a Premier League lifeline has received rather differing responses from talkSPORT pundits Simon Jordan and Danny Murphy.
And you can probably guess which was the more cynical of the two…
Speaking to talkSPORT on Tuesday, West Ham boss David Moyes opened the door for Jesse Lingard to re-join a club where he played the best football of his career during that stellar loan spell in the second-half of 2021/22; the former Manchester United forward training with the Hammers after a short-term contract at Nottingham Forest came to an end.
Jesse Lingard could return to West Ham United
“I think it’s a situation that’s going to be beneficial to both,” former England, Liverpool and Tottenham midfielder Murphy argues (13 September, 12.30pm). “There’s no fee involved, and I don’t think he’ll be demanding the wages he got at Forest.
“Moyes is in a great position. He got the best out of him before. Why not? I think the strength in depth would help. I don’t think (Lingard) would start in their best XI. A lot would depend on his talent and application in training.
“He’s bright, he’s got football intelligence, and he knows how to play different positions.”
If Lingard can rediscover the form which made him arguably the Premier League’s most in-form player during a brief spell two years back – nine goals and four assists in 16 top-flight starts under Moyes – then the 30-year-old will undoubtedly be a punt worth taking, especially on a free transfer.
Former Crystal Palace chairman Simon Jordan, however, believes a highly-forgettable spell at the City Ground in 2022/23 is a warning West Ham must heed.
‘Waste of time’
“I spoke to Nottingham Forest fans last season who said he was an absolute waste of time,” Jordan hits back. “If I was the owner (of West Ham), if I was David Sullivan, you would have difficulty selling me Jesse Lingard.
“(Moyes) certainly got the best out of him last time. But there was a motivation because he wanted to get into the Euros side (for England).
“If it’s a pay-as-you-play deal, absolutely! Come on in Jesse!”
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