This time last year, West Ham United beat Newcastle United to the signing of Jesse Lingard.
The Manchester United attacker snubbed Newcastle to join the Hammers, where he enjoyed a brilliant half-a-season loan.
What a difference 12 months can make, however, because now Lingard has decided that he wants to sign for the Magpies, amid interest from West Ham.
Sky Sports’ Keith Downie reported this afternoon that the St James’s Park outfit are ‘pushing hard’ to sign the 29-year-old, with David Moyes’s Irons also in the reckoning.
However, Downie added that the England international is keen on a move to Tyneside.
And The Daily Mail have reiterated this by revealing that the player has already told Manchester United teammates that he’d ‘love’ to play for Newcastle.
Any transfer today would be an initial loan because according to The Manchester Evening News last week, the Red Devils want £50 million to sell him on a permanent basis – despite his contract expiring this summer.
Bigggest signing?
Newcastle have already brought Bruno Guimaraes to Tyneside in a £40 million deal.
But in terms of their relegation fight, signing Lingard on loan might be a better addition.
That’s because as mentioned, Lingard tore it up at West Ham during the second half of last season, netting nine goals in 16 Premier League appearances.
He looked unplayable at times and if Newcastle do get him, it’ll be such a massive boost for their survival hopes.
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