West Ham is now in a three-way competition to sign Lingard, according to sources.
According to Football Insider, West Ham will face competition from Turkish clubs Galatasaray and Fenerbahce for offensive midfielder Jesse Lingard.
On Monday (4 September), Football Insider stated that the Irons are still considering providing the 30-year-old a short-term contract.
Lingard impressed throughout the summer training with the West Ham group but is yet to get a formal offer from the London club.
And Turkish giants Galatasaray and Fenerbahce are now considering a move for the former England international.
A well-placed source has told Football Insider that Turkey is a likely destination for Lingard if David Moyes’ side don’t make the midfielder a formal offer.
Lingard remains a free agent following his release by Nottingham Forest in June.
West Ham went head-to-head with Forest for the ex-Man United star last summer (2022) – but he chose to move to the City Ground on a free transfer.
Lingard’s move proved underwhelming, as he managed just two goals and two assists in 20 appearances across all competitions in the 2022-23 campaign.
The former England international previously had a loan spell at West Ham in the second half of the 2020-21 season, notching nine goals and five assists in 16 appearances.
He has racked up 182 games in the Premier League, notching 29 goals and 17 assists.
Lingard’s potential suitors will all be playing European football this season.
Galatasaray and Fenerbahce qualified for the Champions League and Europa Conference League, respectively, while David Moyes’ side is in the Europa League group stage.
In other news, a Saudi club has made an unexpected effort to sign a West Ham player.
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West Ham United transfer news: Nayef Aguerd has received a contract offer from Saudi Arabia.
According to Goal, Al-Ittihad is attempting to sign West Ham United defender Nayef Aguerd with an offer worth ten times his current salary.
The Saudi Arabian source stated on Monday (4 September) that the Saudi club has turned to the Hammers player in the final days of their transfer window after Sergio Ramos chose to join with Sevilla rather than move this summer.
Aguerd’s contract at the London Stadium runs until 2027 and he has even been crucial in David Moyes’ side’s early season success, but the Moroccan defender has given his approval to Al-Ittihad but has not reached an agreement with the Irons for the transfer.
The Saudi transfer window closes on 7 September and Al-Ittihad are keen to strengthen their defence after former West Brom defender Ahmed Hegazi suffered a cruciate ligament injury, leaving them short of options in defence and they view Aguerd as a key target.
Huge money
You can’t blame players like Aguerd for having their heads turned by this sort of money, the wages being touted if he were to make the switch this summer truly are life-changing, not that he won’t be earning impressive money at the London Stadium currently.
But Moyes and those around him at West Ham will likely have no interest in allowing their key centre-back to depart in the coming days, as with the Premier League transfer window now shut, they have no opportunity to replace him if he were to depart.
The Hammers have worked hard this summer to ensure they have a competitive squad across the entire pitch, and if Aguerd leaves, they will be left with a significant vacancy right in the heart of their backline.
West Ham have not been bullied this summer, refusing to move on their appraisals of both incoming and exiting players, and they are unlikely to change their tune now. To let the 27-year-old to leave now, they would have to be offered absurd sums of money.
Aguerd will most likely be dressed in claret and blue until at least January.
