Kevin Phillips

Sun 20 June 2021 20:30, UK

Jesse Lingard would be “a snip” for around £18million if he can recapture the “hunger” he showed during his loan spell at West Ham.

That is according to ex-Premier League goalscorer Kevin Phillips, speaking exclusively to Football Insider about the latest in the Lingard-West Ham saga.

Reputable Hammers news source Claret and Hugh reported on June 15th that Lingard, as per several top agents, is likely to command a £15m-18m fee.

However, an industry source told this site on 18th June that West Ham are likely to have to hand Lingard a big pay rise if they are to lure him from Man United.

The attacking midfielder, 28, will shortly enter the last year of his United contract and scored nine goals in 16 matches on loan with David Moyes’ side in 2020-21.

And Phillips claims that a deal for Lingard is a “no-brainer” if it is in the £15-£18m bracket.

He told Football Insider correspondent Dylan Childs: “Blimey, that’s a snip. If they can get him for that, that’s nothing.

“If he can produce the form that he did in the second half of the season then what a massive signing he’d be.

“The big challenge for him is can he rediscover that form? He certainly went down there with a hunger to prove people wrong.

“But sometimes when players do that on loan and then they actually sign, they can dip off a bit. So that’s the big challenge for him.

“But if West Ham can get him for that price, that’s almost a no-brainer.”

In other news, pundit suggests West Ham working on blockbuster deal that could upset Declan Rice.