Jesse Lingard has been urged to push for a permanent transfer away from Manchester United by Paul Merson, who claims the playmaker is “loving his football again”.
Lingard is in the form of his life at West Ham after moving to the London Stadium on a six-month loan from the Red Devils in January.
The 28-year-old has picked up 12 goals or assists in just nine appearances for the Irons – including a double against Leicester on Sunday – and is sure to be in-demand at the end of the season.
Arsenal are among Lingard’s suitors and will reportedly come calling this summer, with Highbury legend Merson convinced the England international must press for an Old Trafford exit.
“I don’t see him going back to Manchester United,” Merson told Sky Sports .
“He wants to play football. He’s gone to West Ham to play football, now he’s got the love back a bit.
“He lost a little bit of the love of the football, I think he lost his way a little bit. Now he’s loving football again, he’s playing.
“You want to play every week. There’s no point him going back to Manchester United and playing in the Carabao Cup games.
“For me, I think he’s got a chance of going. He’s fresh.”
Quizzed on how much it would cost to prise Lingard from Manchester United, Merson added: “I don’t know. It’s going up every week – that’s the problem!
“He’s scoring goals, he’s making goals. Fair play to David Moyes. He doesn’t get a lot of credit he deserves, he’s got a team there at West Ham.
“This team now, they’re breaking with pace. This is how David Moyes wants to play.”
Lingard has just over one season remaining on his contract with Manchester United, after the club triggered a one-year extension in December.
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