Jesse Lingard has been told by former England international Glen Johnson that he will "100% regret" signing for Nottingham Forest instead of West Ham United this summer.
After leaving Manchester United at the end of his contract at Old Trafford this summer, the 29-year-old has received significant backlash for not returning to the London club, where he spent the second half of the 2020/21 season on loan. The likes of Simon Jordan and Richard Keys have been public in their criticism of the Warrington-native for choosing Forest over West Ham.
Lingard has yet to make his debut for the Reds and be afforded the first opportunity to answer his critics. That could come this weekend when Valencia are the opposition at the City Ground in Forest's final pre-season friendly of the summer ahead of the Premier League season starting next week.
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Another former player-turned-pundit, who came through the academy at West Ham, has added their opinion on the matter. “He’s ended up at Nottingham Forest because they paid him more money," Johnson told The Games Cabin. "There’s no two ways about it. It’s not like he’s from Nottingham or is a Forest fan.
"I have no other words I can say about the move as there’s only one reason why he’s ended up there. He’ll 100% regret not making the move to West Ham.
"To be honest, his move to Forest highlights a short-term mentality. He’s gone on a one-year deal and will earn about £20,000 more a week, when instead he could have gone to West Ham on a three-year deal and been playing in Europe.
"He would have ended up making more money anyway. He knows West Ham, he knows the players, but instead, he could be fighting relegation every week with Nottingham Forest, which is hard work and will frustrate him.”
Will Lingard prove the doubters wrong for Forest? Have your say in the comments...
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