The next West Ham signing is in the building as a board confidant makes a Jesse Lingard claim that might divide fans.
West Ham’s activity in this summer transfer window has suddenly kicked up a notch in the last week.
The Hammers landed their first signing of the window last Thursday with the capture of Edson Alvarez from Ajax.
David Moyes followed that up by bringing in James Ward-Prowse from Southampton on Monday.
And now West Ham are being heavily linked with several exciting players plus another very familiar face.
Next West Ham signing is in the building as board confidant makes Jesse Lingard claim that might divide fans
There was shock this week when it was revealed Jesse Lingard was back at Rush Green training with Moyes’ side.
Lingard is now a free agent after being released by Forest, who he joined ahead of West Ham last summer.
The midfielder shone during that unforgettable six-month loan spell at the London Stadium where he helped fire West Ham to within one win of Champions League qualification and their record Premier League points total.
Reports claimed Lingard is being permitted to train with the Hammers as a gesture of goodwill in a bid to keep his fitness up.
Lingard “fitness favour” was clearly always a trial
But Sky Sports reporter Dharmesh Sheth claimed overnight that new information he was getting from the club was that West Ham were now actively “assessing” whether to sign Lingard as a free agent.
We suggested here on Hammers News that the club were testing fan reaction with the training “favour” before making a decision whether to re-sign the now 30-year-old Lingard
And they have clearly not been perturbed by the mixed reaction to his potential return.
Because it seems the next West Ham signing is already in the building as a board confidant makes a Lingard claim that might divide fans.
Hammers insider Sean Whetstone, whose sources include vice-chair Karren Brady and co-owner David Sullivan, has delivered an update this afternoon.
And he says Lingard is now ‘almost certain’ to be re-signed by West Ham after impressing Moyes and co.
“Former Hammer Jesse Lingard is now almost certain to sign a short-term contract with West Ham after impressing in training over the past week,” Whetstone said.
Some clubs, players and managers just click
Initially the reaction among fans to the Lingard news was, on the whole, one of incredulity.
Many West Ham fans pointed out how ridiculous it would be to bring 30-year-old Lingard back following the appointment of ‘pearl diver’ Tim Steidten as technical director.
But that frosty reception has thawed somewhat – on social media at least – and not everyone is completely against the idea. Some have pointed out that, as a free agent, Lingard will essentially be a replacement for Manuel Lanzini.
And he might give West Ham something different while injecting some much-needed pace into the squad.
With the Europa League schedule to contend with too, the Hammers need a thicker squad.
And sometimes there are players and clubs – and indeed players and managers – who just click.
