Jesse Lingard should have been a West Ham United player in the summer of 2021.
And then a year later, it seemed even more likely that he would return to West Ham on a permanent deal.
However, Jesse Lingard joined Nottingham Forest in the end, and the rest is history.
West Ham desperately tried to sign Jesse Lingard on a permanent deal in the summer of 2021, after his exceptional loan spell at the London Stadium.
However, he returned to Manchester United in the end – a decision that eventually proved to be a terrible one for him in.
After his failed move to Forest, the former England international joined FC Seoul on a free transfer in February 2024.
Jesse Lingard was actually criticised by his manager during his early days out in South Korea.
However, the 32-year-old has turned things around now. He is the club captain of FC Seoul and has bagged seven goals and three assists in 31 appearances for them (Transfermarkt).
How different life could be now for Jesse though, had he joined the Hammers in 2021 or 2022, where he was absolutely adored by the way.
Jesse Lingard makes admission about failed West Ham move
The former Man United star is clearly loving life out in South Korea.
However, I do often wonder whether he looks back on his failed move to West Ham with any kind of regret.
When speaking to The Daily Mail, Lingard opened up on life in South Korea.
He also discussed his time at West Ham, and made a really frank admission:
“I’ll save that one for a rainy day,“ he says. “I don’t really want to go into detail but there was a great deal for me there on the table.
“Then all the people get involved, and, you know, things start to go sideways, and your mind gets swayed. At that time I really wasn’t a guy who spoke out.“
I am really interested to know what Lingard is holding back. I presume he is inferring to interference from agents, but we won’t know until he truly lifts the lid on what happened.
Remarkable criticism FC Seoul manager made of Jesse Lingard
Looking back to his early days out in Asia, it was certainly a struggle for him to establish himself.
FC Seoul manager Kim Gi-dong spoke to Korea JoongAng Daily about Lingard during his first few months with his team.
And he ripped into the 32-year-old:
“He only played a few minutes, and yet he didn’t work hard and avoided tussle. If you run less than a footballer who has played 90 minutes, you’re not even a footballer. Fame doesn’t win football games. If it did, I would have brought in a famous retired player.”
In fairness to the Englishman, he has turned things around massively, and he deserves huge credit for that.
Jesse Lingard will always be fondly remembered by the West Ham fans, and I’m sure every single one of them will be pleased that the 32-year-old is loving life out in South Korea right now.
