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Jesse Lingard ‘training with West Ham United after Nottingham Forest release’
The 30-year-old is currently a free agent after seeing his one-year deal at Nottingham Forest expire at the end of June.
Lingard failed to score or provide an assist in 17 Premier League appearances for Forest last season, but he did chip in with two goals and two assists in three EFL Cup outings.
Nevertheless, the midfielder fell down the pecking order under Steve Cooper
during the second half of last season and played for just 60 minutes across three appearances since the turn of the year.
Lingard is still searching for a new club after leaving Forest and is understood to have received offers from Saudi Arabia, Qatar and MLS.
Lingard revealed last month that he is “considering all options” and refused to rule out a potential move to the Middle East.
However, according to the Daily Mail, Lingard could be offered a contract by West Ham after manager David Moyes allowed the midfielder to join up with the squad for training to build up his fitness.
Lingard is said to enjoy a good relationship with Moyes after he excelled under the Scotsman with West Ham during a six-month loan spell in 2021.
Indeed, the midfielder scored nine goals and registered five assists in 16 Premier League games to help the Hammers finish six in the table and qualify for the Europa League.
West Ham were keen to sign Lingard permanently from Manchester United in the summer of 2021, but the Red Devils refused to lower their asking price and a deal ultimately failed to materialise
West Ham have already signed two new midfielders this summer, with Edson Alvarez joining from Ajax before the arrival of James Ward-Prowse from Southampton was confirmed on Monday.
The Hammers have used funds from the £105m sale of Declan Rice to Arsenal to lure both Alvarez and Ward-Prowse to the London Stadium, an Moyes is thought to be interested in strengthening his midfield further before next month’s transfer deadline.
A recent report claims that West Ham have identified Ajax’s Mohammed Kudus as a potential replacement for Lucas Paqueta, who has been strongly linked with a move to Manchester City.
Paqueta is said to be keen to push through a move to the Citizens, who are allegedly preparing an improved bid for the £95m-rated Brazil international.
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The Reds have had a relatively quiet summer transfer window so far with three new players brought in. Goalkeeper Matt Turner arrived from Arsenal, winger Anthony Elanga joined from Manchester United whilst defender Ola Aina made the move on a free from Italian side Torino.
And head coach Cooper has expressed his hope that Forest can bring more players in before the transfer window closes on September 1.
He said: “If we really want to grow and improve in this league we need to bring some players in, so I really hope the club can do that now. We managed to survive last season and we did it in a certain way and we’ve got to try and evolve that, but to do that we need to add to the starting team and then consequently to the squad because we need it.”
But Jordan questioned Cooper’s plea for new signings. The former Crystal Palace owner turned pundit feels the Reds boss should keep his requests for news players in-house.
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