West Ham are not interested in re-signing Jesse Lingard this month, despite their growing injury crisis.
The Hammers are desperately searching for attacking reinforcements after Lucas Paqueta was ruled out for up to two months with a calf problem. Mohammed Kudus is away at the Africa Cup of Nations with Ghana, while Michail Antonio and Jarrod Bowen are also currently sidelined, though the latter could return by the start of next month.
Lingard left Nottingham Forest after his contract expired last summer and has been without a club ever since, after potential moves to Inter Miami and the Saudi Pro League failed to materialise.
The England international enjoyed a superb spell at West Ham on loan from Manchester United during the second half of the 2019/20 season.
The Irons have made strong attempts to sign him on multiple occasions since, most notably when he turned the club down in favour of a move to Forest 18 months ago, but decided against offering him a contract following a stint training at Rush Green as a free agent this summer.
The 31-year-old was this week pictured on Instagram training alongside Hammers midfielder Pablo Fornals in Dubai, with David Moyes having given his players four days off following Sunday’s FA Cup draw with Bristol City.
That sparked fresh suggestions that Lingard could be handed the chance to revive his career at the London Stadium on a short-term basis, but sources at the club say there is no such plan.
Keep up with all the latest West Ham transfer news and rumours live
Ajax winger Steven Bergwijn remains a key target this month, while there is also interest in Sunderland’s Jack Clarke, but concern the Championship side will not sell until the summer unless a substantial offer is made.
The Hammers have also monitored Norwich winger Jonathan Rowe, with the club looking to target home-grown players where possible.
