---
title: "Exclusive: Michael Ball claims Everton fans want Jesse Lingard and not Ross Barkley"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/exclusive-michael-ball-claims-everton-fans-want-jesse-lingard-and-not-ross-barkley-e191/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Danny Rust"
section: "Chelsea Football Club"
published: "2021-08-13T05:10:53Z"
modified: "2021-08-13T05:10:53Z"
---

# Exclusive: Michael Ball claims Everton fans want Jesse Lingard and not Ross Barkley

**Michael Ball reckons Everton fans would prefer to see Jesse Lingard head to Goodison Park than Ross Barkley seal a return.**

Rafa Benitez is looking to bolster his squad after [replacing](https://www.evertonfc.com/news/2181395/benitez-appointed-everton-manager) Carlo Ancelotti in the Everton hotseat.

The Toffees have welcomed [Andros Townsend](https://www.evertonfc.com/news/2193729/townsend-joins-everton), [Asmir Begovic](https://www.evertonfc.com/news/2193899/everton-complete-begovic-signing) and [Demarai Gray](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/57916930) to the club during the transfer window, but Benitez has been linked with a host of creative midfielders.

\[freshpress-poll id=”369923″\]

Manchester United’s Lingard is thought to be on Benitez’s [wishlist](https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/football/15647251/manchester-united-jesse-lingard-transfer-everton/) after impressing during a [loan spell](https://www.whufc.com/news/articles/2021/january/29-january/west-ham-united-sign-england-international-jesse-lingard-loan) with West Ham United last season.

The 28-year-old scored [nine goals](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/jesse-lingard/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/141660/verein/379) and registered five assists in 16 appearances for the Hammers.

Everton – along with West Ham and Newcastle United – are also [keeping tabs](https://www.90min.com/posts/west-ham-transfer-news-ross-barkley-alternative-jesse-lingard-exclusive) on Barkley.

The central midfielder [left](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/42574404) Goodison Park for Chelsea three-and-a-half years ago, with the £15million deal being completed after Barkley [confirmed](https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/football/3876273/ross-barkley-wants-a-move-away-from-everton-to-save-his-england-career-as-ronald-koeman-rings-the-changes-at-goodison-park/) he wanted to leave Everton.

Ex-Toffees left-back Ball believes Everton fans would rather see Benitez target Lingard instead of Barkley.

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He exclusively told The Transfer Tavern: *“I think the fans would probably push more towards Jesse Lingard considering what he did last season.*

*“He seemed to be the guy in form and nearly broke into the England squad for Euro 2020.*

*“They’re the type of players that we want to bring to the club because Everton want to try to close that gap. Those types of players can do that.”*