West Ham United may have just been handed a massive boost in their bid to sign Jesse Lingard on a permanent basis...

What's the word?

His current club Manchester United announced a long-awaited deal for Jadon Sancho in an €85m (£73m) move from Borussia Dortmund this week but, according to The Athletic, it has left them with a lack of finances to complete a move for Real Madrid centre-back Raphael Varane.

The Frenchman is entering the final year of his deal and will be free to speak to United in January over a pre-contract agreement, but if they are to secure him in this window, then some player sales may be required, which will undoubtedly put Lingard's future back in the spotlight.

Transfer boost

Lingard's time at Old Trafford looked to be all but over in January but his stunning form for the Irons has led to a feeling that he could still play a part under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

However, considering the impending arrival of Sancho, it's hard to imagine that the 28-year-old attacking midfielder would garner much playing time, especially when there is also Bruno Fernandes and perhaps Donny van de Beek ahead of him in the pecking order, not to mention the likely emergence of Amad Diallo.

Just last week, the Daily Star reported that United were prepared to offer Lingard a new £130,000-per-week, three-year contract extension as he too is entering the final year of his current deal, but that was suggested prior to Sancho's arrival.

It's already abundantly clear that the Hammers are desperate to bring the loan sensation back to the London Stadium - even manager David Moyes has made it obvious.

He told reporters after the final game of the season, via the Evening Standard: "I hope Jesse’s here, we’d like to keep him, he’s done an exceptional job for us but there’s no guarantees, he’s not our player. But I hope Jesse realises we’ve been good for him as well, and that he joined a club on the up."

United are also said to value Lingard at around £25m after his very successful loan spell under the Scotsman, so arguably he's the most valuable asset they have in order to raise funds for Varane right now.

That is why this development should come as a massive boost to the Hammers.

The 29-cap England dynamo registered nine goals and five assists to help fire the east London outfit into the Europa League. Only midfielder Tomas Soucek recorded a better average rating on the season than Lingard, as per WhoScored.

It's really no surprise that the United outcast, who has been described as "absolutely phenomenal" in the press during his time at West Ham, is one of their top priorities this window.

Given the lack of finances following the swoop for Sancho, Moyes and GSB would be foolish to not force United's hand. They must now secure a move for the £12.8m-rated beast after this fresh boost.

AND in other news, Moyes could kill two birds with one stone with West Ham swoop for £18m-rated "warrior"...