A report from Claret & Hugh has outlined West Ham’s core transfer priorities for the summer window – and a familiar face is a headline act at the summer stage of recruitment.
According to the report, a top striker and Jesse Lingard are two key components of West Ham’s summer ambitions.
West Ham fans will likely be unsurprised by both objectives.
With Michail Antonio as the sole senior striker available to David Moyes, providing competition (and likely with a younger option than the forward Antonio) is one of the areas most in need of addressing at the club.
Equally, the on-loan dynamo Lingard has enjoyed a late renaissance in his career with his switch from Manchester to London.
The Manchester United academy product is grasping the claret-and-blue-coloured opportunities being afforded to him at West Ham, with a direct goal involvement for each senior appearance he has made for the club this season.
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4 goals and 2 assists in 6 appearances is nothing to be scoffed at, and it points to the 28-year-old loanee returning to regular action with a renewed insatiable appetite for creativity and productivity in front of goal.
Consequentially, acquiring Lingard permanently and ensuring his impact and experience remains rooted in east London is a sound priority for the Hammers, who are said to be willing to ‘move heaven and earth’ to sign the playmaker.
The Mancunian parent club of Lingard will undoubtedly look to leverage Lingard’s success.
One report suggests that Lingard could set West Ham back by £20 million – though this could yet remain as a sound investment if his form continues.