The Hammers have opened talks with free agent Jesse Lingard to explore the possibility of a permanent transfer, reports The Athletic. The midfielder left his boyhood club Manchester United at the end of the 2021/22 season following the expiration of his contract.
Lingard, who spent half a campaign at the London Stadium from January to June 2020, left United at the end of the 2021/22 season after deciding against renewing his deal. The 29-year-old free agent was linked to the Hammers and Newcastle United in the past year.
According to the report, talks between the club and the player’s representatives are still at an exploratory stage. Previous rumours have put Lingard’s wage demands in the 140,000 to 180,000 pounds per week bracket, but the Hammers are yet to table an official proposal to the Englishman.
Lingard scored nine goals in 16 appearances during his half-season loan at West Ham back in the 2020/21 season. It was the attacker’s fifth temporary foray away from parent club United – for whom he made 232 appearances eight seasons and scored 35 goals – but the first since 2014/15.
Before Lingard, however, West Ham are likely to finalize a deal for Paris-Saint Germain custodian Alphonse Areola. The Frenchman spent the season on loan at the London Stadium, providing back-up to the usual number one Lukasz Fabianski by standing in for the Pole in the Hammers’ Europa League run. The club has now agreed to pay the Parisians eight million pounds to sign Areola permanently on a long-term contract.
West Ham are also interested in signing Chelsea academy star Armando Broja on a permanent deal. The Albanian spent the previous season on loan at Southampton, for whom he scored nine goals in 38 appearances across all competitions. As per The Athletic, the Hammers are preparing to present the Blues with an offer of 30 million pounds to secure the player’s rights.
