Report: West Ham may have missed out on signing two players because Moyes was so confident Lingard was coming

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West Ham United manager David Moyes was confident that Jesse Lingard would return to the club as a free agent this summer.

But the England international has now joined newly-promoted Nottingham Forest on a one-year contract.

The Athletic report that West Ham may well have missed out on two other attacking targets because Moyes was so confident Lingard was coming.

Arnaut Danjuma and Keane Lewis-Potter are named as players who would have improved the Hammers, but Lingard was the one Moyes put his faith in and he now has not come.

Moyes thought Lingard would rejoin West Ham

But West Ham look to have taken a stance on Lingard in terms of his wages and the type of agreement they would offer.

It looks a slightly strange one for Lingard to have signed a one-year deal, even if it did potentially maximise his earning potential this season.

He has just spent two seasons ruminating over his future, and now finds himself in a position where he will be a free agent at the end of next term.

Lingard will likely hope that he proves himself once again in the Premier League and has a host of suitors after him next summer, but West Ham now have to look elsewhere.

West Ham still need an attacking reinforcement, to help cope with the demands of European football at the London Stadium once again this season.

Lingard will not be that man and the meeting with Forest next month could see the England international get an interesting reception.

Before that, Forest play Newcastle, who are another club Lingard has flirted with before eventually staying at United in January.