David Moyes has expressed his surprise over Jesse Lingard’s decision to move to Nottingham Forest, insisting West Ham made a ‘really good offer’ for the former Manchester United winger.
Lingard left Old Trafford earlier this summer after 22 years with United, having come through the club’s academy. The 29-year-old’s opportunities became more limited during his final years with the club, making his eventual exit inevitable.
Having left United, many expected Lingard to make the move back to West Ham, having enjoyed a successful spell on loan at the London Stadium during the 2020/21 season. The England international was offered the chance to link up again with Moyes and the Hammers, but instead decided to join recently-promoted Forest on a one-year contract.
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“I was surprised, yeah,” Moyes admitted. “I thought Jesse in the end would come here and I've got to say the club made him a really good offer.
“You couldn't turn around and say David Sullivan and the owners didn't do everything they could to get him. They certainly did.
“I've got to say the club have tried to get lots of players but for different reasons we've not been able to get them.
“We've made bids for numerous, numerous players. Genuine bids and genuine money, and for different reasons we've not got them.
“They've not wanted to come to the club or we've not got the financial deal right or we've not been able to pay the player and the agent, so one way and another we've found it difficult to be competitive this summer.”
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