Manchester United midfielder Jesse Lingard personally told David Sullivan that he did not want to re-join West Ham during the summer, following a successful loan spell, per 90min.
Lingard lit up the London Stadium over the second half of last season during a temporary transfer from Old Trafford. The 28-year-old offered nine goals and five assists in 16 Premier League appearances under David Moyes. Ending the year as the Irons’ third-top goalscorer.
Only 10-goal duo Tomas Soucek and Michail Antonio found the back of the net in claret-and-blue more often in 2020/21. With both playing the full campaign in east London, while making 22 and 10 more appearances than Lingard respectively.
West Ham explored bringing Lingard back from Manchester United during the now-closed summer transfer window, given his form under Moyes. But the Hammers ultimately did not make the Red Devils a last-ditch offer for either a permanent or loan deal.
Sullivan and Moyes changed tack and targeted CSKA Moscow midfielder Nikola Vlasic after Lingard made clear his position. The 30-cap England international personally informed Irons Chairman Sullivan that he wanted to stay at Old Trafford for the season.
Lingard is now back in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s plans, after not playing any top-flight football under the Norwegian last term. But his greater chances have been hindered by the arrivals of £73m and £13m forwards Jadon Sancho and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Along with West Ham, Atletico Madrid and Inter Milan were among a clutch of European sides to express their interest in signing Lingard from Manchester United this summer. The Red Devils product now has less than a year remaining on his £100k-a-week contract.
Will West Ham regret not signing Lingard from Manchester United?
Lingard was a sensation at West Ham last term as the midfielder put his Manchester United struggles in the past. His form also earned the Warrington-born maestro an England recall this summer, while seemingly saving his Old Trafford future, too.
Yet Solskjaer has so far only awarded Lingard a mere four minutes this season and that was before Ronaldo’s arrival. Coming on as a late substitute at Southampton after Solskjaer left him out at home to Leeds. He was also only an unused substitute at Wolves last time out.
Lingard, potentially more so than West Ham after signing Vlasic instead, could now live to regret staying at Manchester United. That is if his role continues to be on the periphery, after Rio Ferdinand – among many – praised Lingard while at the London Stadium.
“I’ve argued with pundit after pundit, on-air, and off-air. He could play in any top team because he’s an intelligent footballer. He can play off one-touch or two-touch,” Ferdinand said on Vibe with Five. Adding: “Since he’s gone in there, what he’s done is amazing.”
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