PL club make formal approach for West Brom linked midfielder – report
Any hopes of making Jesse Lingard a West Brom player have taken a significant blow with Sky Sports reporting that West Ham have made a formal approach for the midfielder.
Mail Online reported over the weekend that Lingard was a target for Albion and he will be allowed to leave Old Trafford on loan this month.
Any hopes Sam Allardyce held over signing the 28-year-old have taken a severe blow with David Moyes’ Irons making a formal approach for Lingard’s services.
On Sky Sports’ Transfer Centre (Monday 25, 19:43) the outlet claim that the Hammers want to take Lingard to the London Stadium for the rest of the season.
With West Ham having a brilliant season and potentially fighting for a Europa League place, this presents a much more attractive option for the Manchester United man as opposed to joining Albion’s relegation fight.
Whether Man United will accept West Ham’s proposal remains to be seen but with Lingard reportedly wanting to play more football, it would be surprising if the Red Devils turned down this approach.
Albion may still throw their hat in the ring and they could argue that Lingard would get more game time at The Hawthorns and first-team minutes is exactly want the player wants.
Though it is admittedly hard to imagine the midfielder turning down West Ham to come and fight in a relegation battle.
If Albion do miss out it could open the door for another potential signing.
Big Sam remains interested in bringing Leicester midfielder Hamza Choudhury to the club but with only one domestic loan space left the Baggies boss would only be able to sign either the Leicester man or Lingard.
This latest news may have made up Allardyce’s mind for him and we, as a result, may see Albion make a move for Choudhury in the coming days now that a move for Lingard looks to be off the table.
In other West Brom news, Pep Guardiola has been very complimentary of Big Sam ahead of Tuesday’s PL clash between Man City and Albion.
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