Attacking midfielder Jesse Lingard appears to be close to a move to West Ham United, having previously trained with Inter Miami earlier this summer.
Lingard is a free agent, having left Nottingham Forest at the end of last season, and was linked with a move to Miami earlier this summer after being spotted at the club’s training facilities.
However, he will not be joining Tata Martino’s side just yet, as it now appears that he will return to West Ham. A report from The Express has revealed that he is training in East London, and could return to David Moyes’ side.
As a former Manchester United academy product, as well as an England international, the links between Lingard and Miami co-owner David Beckham could have perhaps led to a move for the free agent, but Miami will now miss out on one of their targets.
Could Lingard have been a good signing?
Miami’s new look side has seen Robert Taylor and Lionel Messi combine well going forward, and Miami’s attack could have been even more potent with Lingard alongside them.
The Englishman has struggled for game time in the last two seasons, but his loan spell at West Ham in 2021 saw him play regularly, and he scored nine times in 16 games in an impressive six months.
A fresh start in Miami could have helped him regain his confidence, and the 30-year-old could have been a very useful asset in the team. However, given that there is Premier League interest, a move did seem unlikely to materialise for him.
Perhaps he might be one to keep an eye on for a move next year, should his mooted spell at West Ham fail to work out. Whilst he could have been a fine addition this summer, there will not be too much disappointment given how well the signings Miami did make have performed.