Pundit shares ‘massive’ Jesse Lingard fear after Nottingham Forest news
Noel Whelan has claimed the big-money capture of Jesse Lingard at Nottingham Forest is a “massive risk” for the Premier League newcomers.
The former Leeds striker, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, claimed the 29-year-old is “not showing any commitment” after he penned a lucrative one-year deal at the City Ground.
Nottingham Forest confirmed the addition of free agent Lingard on Thursday (21 July) after he left Man United earlier this summer.
According to The Guardian (21 July), the England international will earn around £200,000-a-week for the duration of his contract – netting him a total of around £10million in wages.
He played just 540 minutes of football during the 2021-22 campaign.
Whelan suggested Forest could end up with egg on their face if Lingard gets injured or fails to deliver this season.
“I’m really on the fence about this one,” he told Football Insider‘s Ewan Kingsbury.
“But on his day, he’s got the quality that might keep them up. But it’s a big might.
“If he gets injured and he’s out for six months, there’s a real issue here. He’s not showing any commitment. If he was, he’d sign a three or four-year contract.
“It’s a massive risk, but it’ll be exciting for the Forest fans to have him. If he gets injured, they look stupid. If he doesn’t perform, it’s a waste of money.
“It might not be the same outcome as it was at West Ham.”
Lingard scored nine goals and registered five assists in half a season at West Ham during the 2019/20 season – and the Irons were interested in re-signing him this summer.
Forest have completed 11 additions during the off-season.
In other news, pundit makes emphatic Nottingham Forest prediction after journalist’s £100m+ reveal.