Summer signing Jesse Lingard reportedly turned down a higher wages offer from West Ham United in order to join Nottingham Forest, despite suggestions he signed for the club just for money.
The former Manchester United midfielder put pen to paper on a one-year deal recently. The Reds beat off considerable competition for the 29-year-old, most notably from former loan club West Ham.
The England international spent the second half of the 2020/21 season on loan at the London Stadium, scoring nine goals and providing a further six assists in 16 appearances for the club. Lingard’s decision to choose to sign for Forest over the Hammers therefore came as a surprise to many, leading to suggestions among pundits and opposition fans that he had joined Forest due to a higher wage offer
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That suggestion has now been questioned. According to the Telegraph , Lingard was offered a salary of £127,000-a-week at West Ham, along with a signing on fee of nearly £1 million.
It is said that at Forest, Lingard is earning a basic £80,000-per-week plus add-ons. It has previously reported that could see him earn around £120,000 a week. The report adds that the move for the player was never about the money and that he was impressed by the club’s determination to sign him this summer, as well as how he fit into the style of play under Steve Cooper.
Lingard is set to make his competitive debut for Forest in just a few days' time when the club kick off their Premier League campaign at St James’ Park against Newcastle United on Sunday. He then could make his home debut when Forest return to the City Ground to take on former loan club West Ham United just over a week later.
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