13 September 2023 , 12:28
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West Ham boss David Moyes has confirmed his hopes of signing free agent Jesse Lingard – who has been training with the club for the last three weeks.
Prior to joining the Hammers as a triallist, Lingard spent time training with two MLS clubs. However, DC United – managed by Wayne Rooney – did not take up the option to sign the former England international while Inter Miami also passed up on the opportunity to sign him.
Lingard was released by Nottingham Forest at the end of June following one season at the City Ground. The former England international starred for the Hammers during a loan spell in the second half of the 2020-21 campaign, when he scored nine goals in 16 appearances.
That purple patch almost helped propel the East London side into a Champions League qualification spot that campaign, while it was anticipated he would join on a permanent deal from Manchester United – where his contract was due to expire the following year.
However, no deal came to fruition and Lingard remained at Old Trafford – where he was a peripheral figure throughout the campaign. He left his boyhood club at the end of his contract and joined Forest as a free agent, but he struggled to impress at the newly promoted club – failing to find the net in the Premier League.
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Earlier this summer, Lingard spoke of the need for a "project" which suits him and understands why other Premier League stars have already opted for the Saudi Pro League – leading to suggestions that he was open to a move to the Middle East.
It appears more likely now that Lingard, who can sign for a club outside of the transfer window due to being a free agent, will stay in the Premier League with West Ham boss Moyes talking up his form in training.
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Lingard is on the lookout for his next club after leaving Nottingham Forest (PA)“Jesse has been training with us for three weeks and he has improved greatly since he first came in – he is in really good condition, much better than when he came in,” Moyes told talkSPORT this week.
“When Jesse joined us a couple of years ago he had that great run of form and probably he made the difference for us getting into Europe for the first time. So I want to give him a real opportunity to get back into condition and see how he does.
“He is back and getting much closer to the level of fitness we hoped he would be at.”
The manager’s comments follow on from Kevin Nolan, a first-team coach at the Hammers under Moyes, hinting on BBC Radio 5Live ahead of his side’s clash against Chelsea earlier this season that a deal for Lingard could come to fruition: "Listen, he had a fantastic six months with us. He re-energised himself, he re-energised the club and he did what he needed to do. I think because of that, the gaffer has said to him: 'Come in and train with us.'
"He’s not quite up to match fitness, at the minute. I think we will continue to assess as we go along. But Jesse, the first day you see him, and he says it: 'I feel like it’s my second home and I feel like I need to be here to go again.' If it works for both I think, it will happen. But that will be up to the boss. All we have to do is sort of see how he does over the next couple of weeks."