Darren Bent has warned Jesse Lingard on talkSPORT that there is ‘no point’ in him moving to West Ham if he’s just going to sit on the bench.
West Ham are leading the race to sign the England international on-loan before Monday’s deadline, as reported by BBC Sport.
Lingard, who has 24 caps to his name on the international stage, is yet to feature in the Premier League this season and those in East London are seemingly knocking hardest for his signature.
West Ham seems a pretty good destination for the technically-gifted attacker, but Bent warned he has to make the right move.
“It’s certainly a team on the up,” said Bent. “You have to say it does make a lot of sense, but what he doesn’t want to do, Jesse is go from one person’s bench to another.
“That’s what you don’t need then there’s no point on going out on loan. He needs to go somewhere where he is going to play week in and week out.
“Of course, we know there is a difference in size in Manchester United and West Ham. And West Ham are a team in a great form. I really like the manager and I like the squad he is building.
“I think he could fit in well there but as I am saying, he cannot go anywhere else and not play any games because that would be the worse thing for him. He cannot get back at Manchester United, doesn’t play at West Ham and the only way is down after that, unfortunately.”
Straight off the bat, Lingard will initially find it difficult getting into this West Ham XI because of their current form.
They occupy a Champions League spot and, say it quietly, but they are dreaming of a European finish.
If that is to happen then that extra bite is needed in their team and Lingard, who has a proven record in big games, is ready-made for that.
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