West Ham readying bid for 'top, top level' forward

West Ham United are reportedly working on a deal to land Manchester United’s Jesse Lingard this month.

The Hammers had the 30-year-old on loan in the second half of last season.

Lingard was sensational for West Ham, registering nine goals and five assists from 16 games.

Since then, the Hammers have consistently been linked with the England international.

And with the January transfer window now open, speculation is linking the two parties again.

Lingard has not started a Premier League game for Manchester United all season.

Indeed, he has played just 88 minutes of league football under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and now Ralf Rangnick.

According to The Express, West Ham are now working on a deal that will be acceptable to United, who saw Lingard turn down a new contract in October.

Lingard’s current deal runs out at the end of this season, and West Ham are reportedly at the front of the queue to re-sign the attacking ace.

United, Moyes hopes, will be prepared to do a cut price deal for around £10million this month, added the report.

If they don’t, they would lose the player for nothing in the summer.

Can West Ham land “top, top level” forward?

Back in May, Bruno Fernandes hailed his clubmate’s efforts on loan at West Ham.

“If you see Jesse, I think Jesse, at the moment, if you watch the last 10 games, has been top, top, top level,” he told MUFC’s club website.

“For me, if you watch the last 10 games, he’s been the best player in the Premier League, scoring and assists in every game.”