EXCLUSIVE: West Ham seriously considering shock move to re-sign free agent Jesse Lingard on a short-term deal this summer, player desperately wants move after training with Hammers squad this week
West Ham are reportedly weighing up a permanent move for former loan star Jesse Lingard. The 30-year-old is currently a free agent having left Nottingham Forest following a disappointing season in which he provided no goals or assists in 17 Premier League appearances.
Lingard previously spent 11 years on the books at boyhood club Manchester United, which included a spell on loan at West Ham during the second half of the 2020-21 campaign.
During his time at the London Stadium, the attacking midfielder excelled, adding nine goals and five assists in just 16 games, before he snubbed the Hammers in favour of a move to Forest last summer.
And, according to The Guardian, West Ham boss David Moyes – who allowed Lingard to train with his squad this week – is reportedly contemplating signing the former Red Devil on a short-term deal. The report states Lingard is hoping to prove his fitness to the Scot over the coming days and weeks as he looks to get his career back on track.
He has been linked with a move to MLS this summer, but so far nothing has materialised, although he did spend time training at Inter Miami’s base last month.
If Lingard was to return to the London Stadium, it would be a huge turnaround after he rejected strong interest from the Hammers in 2022 in favour of Forest after being offered a more lucrative package by Steve Cooper’s side that was believed to be worth £200,000 per-week.
This led to a badly-tempered game last August between the clubs at the City Ground when Hammers supporters threw fake £50 notes at Lingard.
Lingard – who also counts Leicester City, Birmingham, Brighton and Derby among his former clubs after several spells out on loan when he was at Old Trafford – has won 32 England caps and was once a favourite of Gareth Southgate, although he has not featured for the Three Lions since 2021.
Moyes is desperate to add further signings after a frustrating summer, with the Scot facing slow progress on his desired transfer business which has come amid clashes with technical director Tim Steidten.
They were the final Premier League club to make a signing, before eventually adding Ajax and Mexico star Edson Alvarez for £35.4m last week.
The Hammers then confirmed the addition of James Ward-Prowse for £30m on Monday, but need further reinforcements if they are to avoid another season of struggle in the top flight, with Gianluca Scamacca, Nikola Vlasic, Arthur Masuaku and Manuel Lanzini all joining Declan Rice in leaving the club over recent months.
They drew their first game of the Premier League campaign 1-1 with Bournemouth on Saturday and host Chelsea on Sunday afternoon.
