West Ham assistant manager and first-team coach Stuart Pearce has confirmed the club’s interest in Manchester United midfielder Jesse Lingard.
Lingard, who missed last weekend’s Premier League clash with Leeds United due to a positive COVID-19 test, spent the second half of last season on loan at West Ham.
The 28-year-old impressed during his brief spell at the London club, scoring nine goals and assisting a further four as he helped the club qualify for the Europa League.
Lingard has featured for Manchester United during pre-season but questions remain over his long-term future at the club, with Pearce now confirming that his club is interested in bringing him back this summer.
“We would like him to come and join us. That has been an open secret. He was wonderful last year,” Pearce is quoted as saying by talkSPORT.
“The ball is in Manchester United’s court. He is contracted to them. We would like him with us, there is no doubt about that. He’s a special lad and was very good around the players – the players really like him.
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“His ability shone out last year and gave us a great option in our squad. You never know, but at this moment in time it looks like he is fighting for a place in the United line-up.”
The fantastic form showed by Lingard in his loan spell at West Ham earned him two call-ups to Gareth Southgate’s England fold, including one in the provisional 33-man squad for Euro 2020.
With one year remaining on his current deal at United, a decision needs to be made on his future. He is eligible to speak to foreign clubs over a pre-contract in January unless a contract extension is signed before then.