Angus Waters > It’s August. The start of the Premier League season is less than two weeks away, and clubs are more desperate for signings than ever.

After Jesse Lingard’s incredible loan spell at West Ham, we were hoping to see him back in Claret & Blue on a permanent transfer. Lingard struggled for game time at Manchester United, and his London-bound move provided refreshing minutes and solid form, accumulating in his return to the England camp.

However, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has provided Lingard with confidence that he will be a part of Manchester United’s plans in the 2021/22 campaign. He’s looked promising in pre-season, having had plenty of minutes and seemingly continued his West Ham form. It’s believed Lingard wants to prove himself in a United kit, made even more tempting by Marcus Rashford’s surgery, which will see him miss the first two months of the season.

As per Sky Sports, West Ham now believe they only have a 10 percent chance of re-signing Lingard, a figure that definitely fits in with the information above. If he chooses to stay in Manchester, his presence will be missed in midfield, having provided us with the spark of creativity, confidence and pace that we desperately needed.

With that said, West Ham target Matheus Pereira could have provided a solution to the loss, until he hinted that he wants a move to Al Hilal to ensure financial security. The West Brom playmaker is trying to force a move away from the relegated side, with West Ham supposedly looking to lure him to the London Stadium. However, his social media activity suggests he wants a move to Saudi Arabia, having liked posts from Al Hilal fans, and stating, “three weeks ago I received an offer that would change my life and my family’s life forever,” referring to their bid.

It would appear, in typical West Ham fashion, that our transfer search will go down to the wire. Both Lingard and Pereira’s heads appear to have turned, leaving the Hammers hapless for now.