The resurgence of a Jesse Ellis Lingard has been one of the funniest stories of this strange and unforgettable season.
West Ham have obviously been privileged to play games without fans to mock them, or invite them or invade the pitch and plant a corner flag in the center circle. However, there is not much physical pressure on them to succeed and the success they have.
We are far from vintage West Ham now | Christopher Lee / Getty Images
David Moye’s side are serious contenders to qualify for the Champions League, and Lingard’s loan signing in January continued to roll in during the second half of the season.
Lingard blossoms with regular minutes, pushes the ball away and works wonders on it. It has even turned its head on some of Europe’s biggest clubs, while some critics think he deserves a second chance at Manchester United.
But where would he best fit to play his football next season? Let’s take a look at the clubs he has been linked to and how likely he will land on them …
Lingard could be a better footballer than Zinedine Zidane ever was. I guess we never know. | Soccrates Images / Getty Images
Suitability rating: 1/10Probability: 0/10
Okay, as fun as it would be for Lingard to be presented with a few keepie-oppies in front of a packed crowd in a renovated Santiago Bernabeu, that’s not a realistic scenario.
Real Madrid’s priorities will be with Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland. They have to give JLingz a miss this time, I’m afraid.
Mikel Arteta is under pressure as Arsenal manager | Pool / Getty Images
Suitability rating: 2/10Probability: 1/10
It would be vintage Arsenal to blast an ever-decreasing transfer budget on another attacking midfielder when they already have a million of them, especially when they look settled with Martin Odegaard and have other areas that need to be addressed in the transfer window first.
Lingard did not look at Man Utd this season OLI SCARFF / Getty Images
Suitability rating: 2/10Probability: 2/10
The normal story told that Lingard would return to his boy’s club and light Old Trafford again.
But that should not – and probably will not – happen. The real story comes from the two parties who both succeed without each other, happy for each other. Just like Dale and Brennan finally gather in Step Brothers when they decided to grow up (ignore what happens after Catalina Wine Mixer).
Lingard will always have an almost universal approval at one of the largest clubs in the world. He is free to go and succeed elsewhere.
Jose Mourinho was eager for a meeting with Lingard this season Matthew Ashton – AMA / Getty Images
Suitability assessment: 5/10Probability rating: 3/10
Spurs fans turned a blind eye to links to Lingard in January – who’s laughing now, sucking?
The move seemed largely driven by Jose Mourinho, the last boss to get anything good out of Lingard, but there are huge questions as to whether he will even be at Tottenham next season.
Lingard is the type of player Mauricio Pochettino would love Marcio Machado / Getty Images
Suitability rating: 7/10Probability: 4/10
PSG should definitely be a challenger in the Lingard competition, and I mean that honestly.
Think about it. PSG’s squad – in addition to Neymar and Mbappe – consists of players who have had good club careers around, if not slightly below the Champions League level. They no longer have the flexibility to sign genuine top level, but the lid on their project is still exciting for the levels below.
Idrissa Gueye, Leandro Paredes, Rafinha, Danilo Pereira, Moise Kean, Julian Draxler, even former Man Utd teammate Ander Herrera – don’t you think Lingard would give impetus and quality to this site?
A player of his skillset would fit in well under Mauricio Pochettino, and heavy rotation between almost pointless Ligue 1 matches and important Champions League bands would ensure that Lingard would play enough minutes to be more than useful.
Imagine children wandering around London in Jordan-branded PSG shirts with Lingard’s name on the back. That makes sense.
Antonio Conte loves a good Premier League player | Alessandro Sabattini / Getty Images
Suitability rating: 8/10Probability: 6/10
Ashley Young thrives at Inter. Alexis Sanchez is on a level slightly lower, but at least he’s not a bust. The same can now be said for Christian Eriksen. Victor Moses was okay there last season.
Antonio Conte gets the best out of players like Lingard. He is the perfect coach for him, the perfect man to start Romelu Lukaku and Lautaro Martinez.
Inter taking in Lingard can compensate for their abysmal re-marking. Not sure, though. Sign him first and then we think again.
Clear and blue look good on you Pool / Getty Images
Suitability rating: 9/10Probability: 8/10
A marriage between West Ham and Lingard seemed a bit far-fetched on paper, but sometimes it’s the strangest combinations that work.
Moyes has got the England international back in the form of his life, and if he leads them to the Champions League, he will immediately have hero status in east London.
Lingard is already loved by fans of one club, but there is nothing to stop him from being a long-standing hero in another.
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