For all of Manchester United's mistakes this season, the decision to not let go of Jesse Lingard is certainly amongst the most baffling.
After finding opportunities non-existent in the first-half of the 2020/21 season, the attacking-midfielder joined West Ham United on loan for the remainder of the season in January 2021. It was an opportunity for him to get his career back on track after it had been forced to ground to a halt at Old Trafford.
Although everyone was optimistic that a temporary stint at the London Stadium would serve Lingard well, nobody was prepared for what followed. After scoring twice on his debut in a 3-1 win over Aston Villa at Villa Park, the England international ended his temporary stint as a West Ham player with nine goals and five assists to his name.
