As the walls started to cave in on Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's tenure as Manchester United manager last November, supporters and journalists alike started to pick out names that might benefit from a changing of the guard.
While Donny van de Beek — who will be aiming to rekindle his career under former mentor Erik ten Hag — was a popular choice for many, Jesse Lingard was also mentioned. Following a blistering loan spell at West Ham in the second half of the 2020/21 Premier League campaign, scoring nine goals and grabbing five assists in just 16 appearances, the attacking midfielder returned to Old Trafford with his career at a crossroads.
He was either going to become a key figure in Solskajer's plans, or be allowed to leave United on a permanent deal, with his stock at the highest level it had been at in years. West Ham were desperate to sign him on a permanent basis and it seemed a matter of 'when' rather 'if' he would return to the London Stadium.
