Soccer

Nottingham Forest on verge of signing Lingard for almost £200,000 a week

Former Manchester United midfielder agrees terms with promoted club despite West Ham interest

Nottingham Forest and West Ham are battling it out to sign Jesse Lingard. Photograph: Ben Hoskins/Getty Images
Nottingham Forest and West Ham are battling it out to sign Jesse Lingard. Photograph: Ben Hoskins/Getty Images
Jacob Steinberg
Thu Jul 21 2022 - 19:20

Nottingham Forest are on the verge of signing Jesse Lingard after hijacking West Ham’s move for the former Manchester United midfielder.

Forest, who are keen to demonstrate their ambition after winning promotion to the Premier League, have agreed terms with Lingard on a contract worth close to £200,000 (€235,000) a week. The 29-year-old, a free agent after leaving United last month, underwent a medical on Wednesday night and a deal to take him to the City Ground could be completed soon.

West Ham had been cautiously optimistic that they were going to be reunited with Lingard, who excelled during a loan with David Moyes’s side two seasons ago. They were reluctant to meet the England international’s request for a deal worth £180,000 (€210,000), but believed that an offer of about £150,000 (€176,000) a week would convince him to return.

It came as a huge shock when it emerged that Forest were willing to break their wage structure for Lingard. West Ham were prepared to make him their highest earner despite concerns that it would cause disgruntlement in the dressingroom. They will hope that Lingard has a late change of heart about his decision to join Forest, who have made eight signings since promotion.

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As it stands Moyes is facing the disappointment of missing out on one of his key targets. West Ham’s manager believes that Lingard, who can play in a number of positions in attacking midfield, would improve his side’s output in the final third. Moyes, who turned down the chance to sign the Villarreal winger Arnaut Danjuma last month, has been the driving force behind the pursuit of Lingard.

West Ham will need to move on quickly if Lingard, who hopes that playing regularly will earn him an England recall before the World Cup, ends up at Forest. Moyes has made it clear that he wants attacking reinforcements, but he also faces an anxious wait to see whether a move for Chelsea’s Armando Broja comes off.

West Ham have made an offer of £30 million (€35 million) plus add-ons for Broja, who wants a permanent move, and there were hopes that the striker would sign by the end of the week.

However it is understood that Chelsea have made attempts to convince the 20-year-old to stay. Chelsea are yet to accept West Ham’s latest bid for Broja, who impressed on loan at Southampton last season.

West Ham’s alternative to Broja is the Sassuolo striker Gianluca Scamacca. They have submitted a £34m bid for the Italy international.

Huddersfield Town are set to sign Tino Anjorin from Chelsea. The 20-year-old forward was on loan at Huddersfield last season and he has agreed to join the Championship club again. – Guardian