David Moyes could repeat Jesse Lingard transformation if West Ham United sign Jadon Sancho
Throughout his career, David Moyes has had a talent for improving players and ensuring that they get the best out of their ability and that has been true at West Ham United.
While plenty of players have reached new heights under his management, one name that sticks out is Jesse Lingard, with the former England international producing the best form of his club career during his six-month loan spell at the London Stadium.
Just when Lingard’s career looked dead and buried, Moyes managed to help him rediscover his ability in a spell that saw him score nine times in 13 matches in claret and blue and the former Manchester United manager may be able to pull off similar heroics once again.
Reports have emerged that the Hammers are monitoring Jadon Sancho’s situation at Manchester United, with the Red Devils open to the prospect of the winger departing Old Trafford on loan or permanently in the January transfer window after his public fall-out with Erik Ten Hag [90min, 24 October].
Sancho last featured for United in August but has since fallen down the pecking order in Ten Hag’s squad after the Dutch manager criticised the winger, only for him to then respond publicly via his own personal Twitter account.
The situation has seen the 23-year-old criticised in recent weeks, with many believing he’s handled the situation poorly and while that may mean that West Ham don’t decide to act upon their interest, the situation has several parallels to that of Lingard only a few years ago.
Few young players were more highly thought of in European football than Sancho during his time in the Bundesliga with Borussia Dortmund where he was widely considered one of the best prospects in world football before making the £73million switch to Manchester United
While it hasn’t worked out for him in the Premier League so far, Moyes may be able to reignite his career similarly if the Hammers can secure his services when the January transfer window opens, either permanently or on loan.
West Ham will be reluctant to spend too heavily when the new year rolls around and they do have plenty of depth in the wide areas, but a fit and firing Sancho will add an extra level of quality and competition on the wings to keep the likes of Jarrod Bowen and Mohammed Kudus on their toes.
It’s more than likely that the Hammers and Moyes will have more pressing transfer priorities, namely in defence and potentially a new striker, but if a loan-to-buy deal could be agreed by all parties it could represent an excellent opportunity for the Irons.