RIO FERDINAND has told Jesse Lingard he should leave Man Utd and join West Ham because he is ‘too good’ to play second fiddle to Bruno Fernandes.
Lingard, 28, joined David Moyes’ squad during the January window and has already netted three Premier League goals for the Hammers.
Lingard scored the winner in West Ham’s win over Tottenham at the weekendCredit: AP:Associated Press
The former England international has scored more league goals for West Ham in the last month than he managed in his previous year at Old Trafford.
And with Man Utd talisman Fernandes excelling for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Ferdinand believes it would be unwise for Lingard to return to his parent club.
Speaking on his YouTube channel FIVE, he said: “I spoke before about this and said I thought Jesse should close a chapter on Man United because he hasn’t been a part of the squad, he hasn’t been a part of the team for ages.
“You see the smile on his face now, the way he’s playing football, the confidence he seems to have.
“There’s a glint in his eye again that I haven’t seen for two years. How can he want to go back to being a bit-part player after tasting this?
“He’s fitted in straight away and I can’t see him wanting to go back to Man United where he’s going to have to play second fiddle to people.
“Because he will, he’ll have to play second fiddle to Bruno Fernandes in that position [in the hole], he’ll have to play second fiddle to anyone playing up front or wide.
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“I’m not saying that he’s not good enough, I’m saying that’s what I’ve been shown from the selections of the team and the squads that have been picked. So, going off that, I would move, I would go on.”
Lingard has been out of favour with England boss Gareth Southgate since the 2018 World Cup due to his lack of minutes at club level.
Meanwhile, Fernandes appears to be irreplaceable in the Man Utd team having scored 22 goals and assisted another 13 in all competitions so far this season.
Declan Rice hilariously taunts Jesse Lingard in bath after taking West Ham’s first penalty of the season
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
