West Ham to sign Jesse Lingard on a free transfer

Jesse Lingard is set to join West Ham after training with the club for multiple weeks. 

Former Manchester United man Jesse Lingard is set to join West Ham on a free transfer. David Moyes revealed this week that the 30-year-old English international has been training with the club for the last three weeks. 

Lingard Is currently a free agent. He last played for Nottingham Forest last season in the Premier League. He formerly played for West Ham on loan from Manchester United during the 2020-21 season.

Moyes reveals Lingard news

West Ham manager David Moyes, speaking to TalkSPORT, revealed this week that Jesse Lingard has been training with West Ham for the last three weeks. The 60-year-old Scotsman spoke very highly of Lingard in that interview. 

“Jesse has trained with us for three weeks and he’s improved greatly from when he first came in,” Moyes said of Lingard. The West Ham manager also said, “I have to say, when Jesse joined us two years ago I think he scored nine goals in 15 games and was probably the difference between us getting into Europe for the first time.”

While he was very willing to give out high praise to Lingard, Moyes was not willing to reveal too much about the former Manchester United player’s future at West Ham. 

“I want to give him every opportunity to get himself back in condition and see how he does,” said Moyes, before adding, “So there’s no real update on it at the moment, just to say that he’s back and getting much closer to the levels of fitness where you’d hope he would be.”

Despite Moyes’ unwillingness to comment on Lingard’s future, many reports claim Lingard is very close to joining West Ham. 

Transfer window closing not an issue for Lingard and West Ham

When reports of Lingard’s return first emerged, some people were quick to point out that the transfer window is closed. However, despite some reports saying otherwise, the transfer window being closed will not be an issue for West Ham. 

Because Lingard has not played for another club this season, he is able to sign on a free transfer with any Premier League team who has an open squad registration slot. West Ham have only registered 24 out of a 25 possible players, meaning they can sign Lingard to play for them immediately at any time this season. 

Lingard spent summer searching for a “project”

In an interview with Sky Sports at the beginning of the summer Lingard reiterated that his desire to play a key role for a club in the 2023-24 season. “I just want to play football,” the 30-year-old midfielder said to Sky Sports. “I’ve never ruled any team out,” Lingard said in June. 

When asked which club Lingard would like to play for, the 30-year-old simply said that he is looking for any club with a “project” well-suited to him. 

Lingard had previously been on trial with MLS’s Inter Miami and D.C. United and has also been linked to Wolves and clubs in Turkey and Saudi Arabia. Inter Miami and D.C. United refused to make an offer to Lingard, and it appears he has chosen to snub all other interested clubs in favour of a return to West Ham.

West Ham are currently in the top four and one of the betting sites’ favourites to win the Europa League. 

The reason Lingard chose to join West Ham is still obviously unknown. Whatever it is, both sides will be hoping the former star can regain some of his glory yet again playing for David Moyes at West Ham.