Strong sense of farewell as Man Utd loanee Lingard salutes West Ham
Jesse Lingard has posted what might be a farewell message to West Ham after his loan spell from Manchester United came to an end.
Lingard’s renaissance was one of the stories of the season in the Premier League. He barely got a look in at Old Trafford in the first half of the season but was revitalised after being loaned to West Ham in January. He went on to score nine goals and provide four assists from 16 appearances for the Hammers.
That form helped West Ham qualify for Europe, earned him an England recall and has led to much discussion about his next step. He still has one year of contract remaining with Man Utd, but at the age of 28 knows he needs to be playing regularly.
It was recently claimed that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer would give Lingard a second chance in a red shirt next season. However, West Ham will be interested in trying to sign him on a permanent basis.
But they might not be encouraged by the message Lingard has posted on Twitter. He thanked them for their help in getting his career back on track, but did not give any indication of whether he would wear the claret and blue colours again.
He wrote: “What a way to end the season. Reaching our goal with this incredible group of lads feels amazing! We pushed hard and never gave up!
“I feel so lucky to have been able to come into such a welcoming environment.
“Everyone connected with the club has shown me just how special this club is. So thank you to the gaffer who had the belief in bringing me here. Thank you to all the staff that made it so easy for me to settle and embed into the club so quickly.
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“Thank you to the coaches who helped me find my true self back on the pitch. Thank you to the fans who supported me from the second I arrived. It was amazing being able to play in front of you on the last day!
“And thank you to a special group of lads, as well as making some new lifelong friends training and playing with you all has been one of the highlights of my career!
“Whatever the future holds @WestHam will hold a special place in my heart!”
Lingard urged to stay
One man who wants to see Lingard playing for West Ham again is teammate Declan Rice.
Last week, the midfielder said: “I hope he does (stay), I really hope he does.
“From the first session he was brave on the ball, he’s an out and out No.10 – always on the half-turn and facing forward and that is the player we needed.
“The game he played against Villa when he scored two, we knew we had a real gem on our hands.”
READ MORE: Lingard reveals why West Ham loan so special and hints at future plans
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