West Ham take Jesse Lingard on loan

West Ham have agreed a deal with Manchester Untied to bring Jesse Lingard to the London Stadium for the rest of the season.

The 28-year-old England international is due to have a medical in Manchester ahead of a loan move to West Ham.

The deal could be completed on Friday, and if he is registered by noon today, he will be free to play in West Ham’s match against Liverpool on Sunday, as David Moyes looks for a rare win over the current champions.

Lingard has struggled to convince Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to pick him so far this season, and has had his chances in United’s cup games. The forward has struggled since the emergence of Mason Greenwood to find a space on the wings. The arrival from Swansea of Dan James, and Edinson Cavani from Paris Saint-Germain, has meant that the front three are far more talented and effective without Lingard anywhere near it.

There were other options for England, with Newcastle United and West Bromwich Albion both keen on to take him on loan as they attempt to stay in the Premier League this season, but Lingard preferred to move to London for a side who currently have a good chance of finishing in the Champions League spaces at the end of the season.

Reports suggest that the deal will cost West Ham more than £3 million for the loan fee and the player’s wages.

Lingard’s contract has been extended until 2022 to preserve his value, but he is expected to complete a permanent transfer in the summer. He had been linked with a switch to the south of France with Marseille and Nice, but Portuguese side Porto were also rumoured to be interested in the player last summer. He will now attempt to force his way into Gareth Southgate’s Euro 2020 squad.