Speaking live on Sky Sports (via Football Daily), reporter Dharmesh Sheth has made a West Ham United transfer claim involving long-time target Jesse Lingard.

The Lowdown: Lingard on the radar...

Ever since his phenomenal second-half season loan spell in east London, where he bagged nine goals and four assists in 16 Premier League starts (WhoScored), Lingard has been linked with a permanent West Ham stay.

He had been tipped as one of manager David Moyes' priority targets for the summer, as Claret & Hugh stated, but a move seemingly looked off when Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer admitted he was in his plans for 2021/2022.

Sky Sports also revealed West Ham's belief that they only had a '10 per cent' chance of signing him this summer, but ExWHUemployee's recent update provided a bit of hope.

The club insider claimed that Lingard is now far more open to a return given his United game time situation and an Irons offer is likely (Patreon).

The Latest: Sky journalist makes on air Lingard claim...

Speaking live on Sky, Sheth has now backed Ex's previous report that a bid is indeed expected for the 28-year-old.

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"With Lingard, we are still expecting West Ham United to come in with an offer to take him from Manchester United," explained the journalist.

"Their coach, Stuart Pearce, has already said 'the ball is in Manchester United's court, but of course, we would love him back given when he did last season'."

The Verdict: Get it done...

There is just under a fortnight of this transfer window remaining and West Ham cannot afford to dilly-dally much longer.

Moyes is in bad need of attacking reinforcements, more so for a star striker to partner Michail Antonio, but signing Lingard could also provide that extra dimension going forward.

Lauded as 'sensational' for his spell at West Ham on loan by ex-Arsenal man Nigel Winterburn (The Sun), snapping up the Red Devils ace would indeed be quite a coup.

In other news: ExWHUemployee drops behind-scenes update involving 86-goal forward, find out more here.