Jesse Lingard ‘expected’ to join West Ham for £6.5m after insider update – expert
Noel Whelan is not expecting Jesse Lingard’s lofty wage demands to be a problem for West Ham as they look to finally get their man.
The former Leeds striker, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, claimed the 29-year-old’s transfer fee could “easily have been £20million” if he wasn’t out of contract.
According to insider ExWHUEmployee via his Patreon (28 May), Lingard is demanding a wage package totalling £180,000-a-week in order to rejoin West Ham this summer.
Lingard is out of contract at Man United next month and has already confirmed he will be leaving the club.
West Ham have pursued the England international since his successful loan spell at the London Stadium in 2021 – during which he netted nine goals in 16 games.
Whelan suggested £180,000-a-week over three years (around £6.5million) is less than any potential transfer fee would have been.
“It is a lot of money,” he told Football Insider‘s Ewan Kingsbury.
“He’s only had half a season in the past three years, if not more.
“But at the same time, you don’t have to pay out a transfer fee – and that fee could easily have been £20million.
“So looking at the big picture, you can demand that kind of wage. That’s just part and parcel of bringing in these kinds of free agents.
“£180,000-a-week over three years, that’s less than any potential fee would have been alone. If they can get it down, they will. But I’m not expecting that to be a problem for West Ham.”
Lingard managed just 548 minutes of football during the 2021-22 campaign, scoring twice.
West Ham will play Europa Conference League football next season following a seventh-place finish.
In other news, expert can’t believe “crushing” behind-the-scenes blow at the London Stadium.