Soccer
Spurs have approached Jesse Lingard’s representatives about a move, spooking the bookies into slashing his odds to join the club. However, West Ham are still slight favourites for his signature.
Paul Okey
Jan 12, 2022
2022-01-12
Lingard transfer news: Tottenham the latest club to try to land the Man Utd attacker
You have to hand it to Jesse Lingard’s agent.
Despite just 87 minutes of first team action at Manchester United and, admittedly, a decent 16-game spell at West Ham, the 29-year-old has a host of top-flight clubs scrambling to land him.
This is a player, remember, who managed a grand total of one goal and no assists during the 2019/20 Premier League season.
Prior to his loan move to the Hammers, he couldn’t even force his way into Manchester United’s 20-man matchday squad. Even Dan James was getting on the bench ahead of him.
But a few cheeky social media posts at West Ham (and, ok, nine goals and five assists) and the attacker is the answer for every top-flight club looking to revitalise their campaign.
West Ham remain interested but you have to wonder if it will work as well second time around, while the Newcastle rumours won’t go away. Crystal Palace, Leeds and Leicester have also been linked.
And now, Tottenham Hotspur are the latest club to show their hand, and bookies have cut his odds to join the club.
With the England player out of contract in the summer, Spurs have reportedly approached Lingard’s representatives about a summer move.
It would leave Lingard kicking his heels at Old Trafford for another six months as it appears unlikely United would sell him to a top-four rival in this window, despite the possibility of losing him for nothing in the summer.
With Adama Traore also being linked with a move to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Antonio Conte is clearly looking to increase his side’s threat on the flanks.
However, for all the faith shown in him by Gareth Southgate (and even then he omitted him from his Euros squad), Lingard hasn’t been a top-fight regular since 2017/18 when he played 33 times for United, scoring eight and assisting six.
Whether the West Ham form was a genuine renaissance or just a flash in the pan remains to be seen. However, Tottenham are clearly one of a number of clubs who believe it is the former. Lingard’s agent is definitely earning his percentage.
READ MORE: January 2022 Premier League transfer window ins, outs and latest signings