Former West Ham United loanee Jesse Lingard will regret not signing for the Hammers permanently this summer.
What’s the word?
That is according to transfer insider Dean Jones, who claimed that the 29-year-old made a “mistake” in opting to join Nottingham Forest over a potential return to the London Stadium.
The journalist believes that there can be a number of reasons as to why Lingard made the decision, but ultimately it is one that he may regret.
Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, Jones said of the ex-Manchester United midfielder’s choice to snub West Ham: “I think he should have regrets. It was clearly a better environment for him, he would have played, he was successful there. There can be any number of reasons why he chose Nottingham Forest instead, but I think it was a mistake.”
A big mistake
Despite playing in the Premier League for the majority of his career, Lingard has scored just 29 goals in England’s top flight. Nine of those were scored in the claret and blue of West Ham in 2020/21 during a loan spell which proved massively productive and somewhat career-reviving at the time for the 32-cap England international.
Fast forward two seasons and he is failing to make an impact at the City Ground, with zero attacking returns garnered in seven top-flight appearances for the relegation-battling Reds.
Rather worryingly for Lingard, he was an unused substitute in the 1-1 draw against Aston Villa on Monday night, and he will be hoping that it is not a sign of things to come.
As a player, it seems that the 29-year-old needs to feel appreciated and be part of the main focus of the squad. David Moyes made him a focal point at West Ham previously and gave him creative freedom at the London Stadium.
Lingard’s subsequent return of nine goals and four assists across 16 Premier League appearances came as a result of that nurturing from the Irons boss, and the player could well be having second thoughts over declining a possible return to the glory days at West Ham, which now seem a world away.
That’s the trouble when footballers put money before football. Shot himself in the foot. West ham supporters treated him good