West Ham have now moved into pole position to re-sign a former star after holding talks with him, according to a report today.

West Ham set for crucial January transfer window

West Ham face a make-or-break January transfer window as they battle relegation, with manager Nuno Espírito Santo prioritising striker reinforcements while they simultaneously negotiating Niclas Fullkrug’s departure to AC Milan.

The Hammers currently sit three points adrift of safety, and their attacking shortage has exposed severe deficiencies up front, placing enormous pressure on the club’s recruitment team to identify immediate solutions.

Advanced negotiations are also ongoing with AC Milan over Fullkrug’s exit, with representatives from the Serie A club even flying to London this week for face-to-face discussions.

The 32-year-old is said to have already agreed personal terms with Milan and given the San Siro move total priority despite Bundesliga interest.

Taking this into account, West Ham will need a replacement for the departing German, who is now set to end his disastrous 18-month spell in east London which has yielded just three goals.

34-year-old Callum Wilson currently leads West Ham’s attack, with captain Jarrod Bowen occasionally deployed in an unfamiliar striker role.

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Survival arguably hinges on January recruitment in that area, but according to insider Claret & Hugh, they could also turn back to a familiar name.

Indeed, C&H report that former West Ham attacking midfielder Jesse Lingard is back on the club’s agenda after mutually agreeing to terminate his contract with FC Seoul in South Korea.

West Ham in pole position to re-sign Jesse Lingard after talks

According to their information today, West Ham have positioned themselves as the frontrunners to sign Lingard in January, after holding talks with him about a sensational return to the London Stadium.

Sources close to the ongoing transfer negotiations have claimed that the Irons are currently leading the race despite interest from one other unnamed Premier League club.

The 33-year-old is also eager to reignite his English top-flight career after spending nearly two years in Korea.

Lingard’s spell in Asia produced respectable returns – 19 goals and 10 assists across 67 appearances in all competitions – yet he has grown increasingly determined to prove himself back in familiar surroundings.

His previous loan stint at West Ham during the 2020-21 campaign remains fondly remembered by supporters, with nine goals and five assists in 16 league appearances that helped the club secure a spot in the Europa League.

Lingard’s experience, technical ability and capacity to operate in multiple attacking positions align with West Ham’s desperate need for creative spark and goals during their survival battle.

His potential return would offer Nuno additional depth behind Bowen while providing competition for places across the forward line.

However, it’s been a long time since Lingard was truly tested in an elite division like the Premier League, so this could still be a risky move by chairman David Sullivan and co.

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