The 'Messi Lingard' Specials with Paddy Power

Jesse Lingard's time at West Ham United has catapulted the club into genuine hope of Champions League football with the Manchester United loanee gradually becoming one of the signings of the season. Lingard has now scored eight league goals and bagged four assists for the Hammers, which quite remarkably, makes this his best-ever goalscoring season after just nine games of action.

This shows just how much the Englishman had struggled at United down the years, with his best time at Old Trafford being in the 2017/18 season where he also netted eight league goals, but across 33 games and not nine. In reality, it does look as if Lingard may well have just found his level, which many disputed was that of just outside the top four anyway.

No doubt David Moyes is going to pull out all his experience to persuade both United and Lingard to make this deal a permanent one, with the club now on course for Champions League football with him in east London. The 28-year-old is priced at 1/2 to stay at West Ham for next season, but 7/5 to return to United.

Ironically, Lingard's form might not be the difference in him returning to Manchester. The future of Paul Pogba, the unrivalled form of Bruno Fernandes and the growth of their youngsters will all be more important than a purple patch from a 28-year-old at a club of a smaller stature than United.

Solskjaer could look at this age and the potential wealth they could bring in with his sale, which could force the transfers of marquee signings like Jadon Sancho in the summer.

If there is ever a sign that Lingard deserves a space at Euro 2020, it's how he is currently on course to outscore a man who is looked at as the saviour for his parent club whilst he is out on loan - ironic, right? As of now, Lingard is two goals short of Marcus Rashford in the Premier League charts, but with the West Ham forward bagging eight in nine, whilst Rashford has 10 in 31, the current goals to game ratio means Lingard could storm past his close pal before the season finale.

Up next for West Ham are crucial fixtures if they are to maintain their Champions League push, but they are significantly easier than what is on United's run. The Hammers clash with Newcastle United, Chelsea, Burnley, Everton, Brighton & Hove Albion, West Bromwich Albion and Southampton before the end of the season. At the same time, along with the potential of three more Europa League fixtures as well as their second leg against Granada on Thursday, United meet Burnley, Leeds United, Aston Villa, Liverpool, Leicester City, Fulham and Wolverhampton Wanderers.

At 5/2, this might just be the pick of the bunch from the 'Messi Lingard' specials, as Lingard is currently just two behind him with much easier fixtures, whilst Rashford could be rested for Europe. Lingard is also priced at 5/1 to score 15 or more league goals, meaning he needs to bag seven in his next seven - a ratio he is just one goal shy of right now.

Lingard could not have hit form at a better time. Since the 2018 World Cup where he bagged a brilliant goal against Panama, Lingard made just six appearances for the Three Lions prior to his recent callup.

After being called up for the recent fixtures against San Marino, Poland and Albania, he might just have made his mark on the England squad for Euro 2020, as this squad was looked at as a carbon copy of the squad for the summer.

The 28-year-old's admission to the side was based off his form, but also due to the injuries to James Maddison and Jack Grealish, which no doubt helped with Southgate's choice, and should they have been fit, it could have been a different story. However, Lingard's form has only continued, whilst Grealish remains injured, just as Maddison got in trouble with Leicester for breaching COVID protocols once again, which might just have killed his already slim chances of making the squad.

Extraordinarily, Lingard has moved from way above EVENS, down to a 1/5 odds on to head to Euro 2020. Now, with his addition expected, the West Ham star is 11/2 to start against Croatia on June 13th and 66/1 to win the Player of the Tournament.

As Lingard is favoured to be at West Ham next season by Paddy Power and 7/5 to be at United instead, his odds for bagging a few back at his parent club are quite steep. In fact, with eight goals in nine already for the Hammers, the club are expected to do all they can to sign him in the summer, but Lingard is priced at 11/1 to score 10 or more goals for United in the league next season.

This is both unlikely due to his potential transfer to east London, and how if he does return to United, he won't be a starter over the likes of Pogba and Fernandes. At the same time, Lingard's best goalscoring season with his boyhood club is just eight league goals in 33 fixtures, so he already has some work to do on this front.

However, he could have turned a corner, and perhaps this is the new Lingard we've all been waiting for.

As of now, Lingard will still be heading back to Manchester to reunite with Rashford, Pogba, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and co. However, it is expected that West Ham will do all they can to get the transfer of him on a permanent deal, which United could be willing to work with, if they are to get something in return.

No doubt one of these players in question would be Declan Rice. The West Ham midfielder is one of the best around in his position, just 22 and reportedly sought after by clubs like Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur, whilst at his young age, he also fits the narrative of building with youth at Old Trafford.

Solskjaer would probably bite your hand off for Rice in return for Lingard, and West Ham are likely aware they will have to sell him at some stage, given the astronomical figure they could get for him. So, this one isn't to be brushed over too easy. But in truth, it's unlikely to be a straight swap deal and the Hammers will no doubt want more cash too.