Nottingham Forest are trying to hijack West Ham’s deal to bring Jesse Lingard back to east London.
The Hammers were expected to finally secure a deal for Lingard’s London Stadium return after 18-months of trying to sign him permanently.
Following his successful six-month loan spell in the second half fo the 20/21 campaign, when he scored nine goals and assisted five others in 16 Premeir League appearances, it has been no secret that David Moyes wants him at the club permanently.
Since Lingard’s Manchester United exit last month, West Ham have been trying to finally get that deal over the line.
But despite reports earlier this week claiming Lingard was on the verge of agreeing to a long-awaited return to the Hammers, it has now emerged that newly-promoted Nottingham Forest have made a last-ditch attempt at snatching him from under Moyes’ nose.
Guardian journalist Jacob Steinberg revealed on Tuesday evening that “Forest are close to agreeing a deal with Lingard” but that “nothing is finalised yet.”
He continued that it was “a fairly surprising development.”
Update on this … now told they Forest are close to agreeing a deal with Lingard. Not finalised yet but a fairly surprising development #whufc #nffc https://t.co/h6E5P8flWp
— Jacob Steinberg (@JacobSteinberg) July 19, 2022
Steinberg’s report says that Jesse Lingard has been holding out for £180k-a-week, which West Ham have been reluctant to agree to. That’s the reason a deal has not yet been finalised, allowing other clubs like Forest to throw their hat in the ring for his signature.
As a result of Forest’s interest, it’s claimed West Ham have held further talks with Lingard in an attempt to convince him that West Ham is where he should be playing his football in future, while Steinberg admitted on Twitter that “Forest have offered Lingard a lot – and yet some there still think he ends up at West Ham.”
