After suffering a cruel blow to their chances of signing Jesse Lingard permanently, West Ham United have been handed a fresh update on a potential alternative...

What's the word?

As revealed by the ever-reliable ExWHUemployee, the 28-year-old loan sensation could sign a new contract at Manchester United, where he is now expected to fight for his place under Ole Gunner Solskjaer.

The Hammers have been linked to a few different options in the event that they cannot secure a permanent move for Lingard, including West Brom's Matheus Pereira and Chelsea outcast Ross Barkley, who David Moyes handed a debut to at Everton.

It is the latter who is thought to have been made available for transfer following the latest claims this week.

Goal.com's Nizaar Kinsella suggests that the Blues are open to selling him this summer after Aston Villa opted against signing him following his loan spell.

It's thought that they value the 33-time England international at around £30m.

Shocking alternative

If Moyes wants to fill the gap left behind by Lingard successfully, then he's probably barking up the wrong tree by considering his former midfielder and he must avoid making a move for him amid this latest update.

After starting the season in sparkling form, the 27-year-old tailed off into oblivion by the end of the 2020/21 campaign in what was ultimately a microcosm of his career so far.

Barkley scored in his opening two matches for Villa and then played a crucial role in the thrashing of Arsenal, where he provided an assist but in his following 19 appearances for the Midlands side, he managed just one further goal.

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Indeed, the Chelsea flop failed to feature in Dean Smith's starting XI in their final three games of the season, so it's no wonder they have not signed him permanently.

Speaking about his struggles, The Athletic's Gregg Evans slammed Barkley as a "liability" on their 1874 podcast back in April.

"He doesn’t do enough for me now," he said. "I’ve seen enough of Ross Barkley now to realise that he’s becoming a bit of a liability for Villa. He’s not helping out enough as he should, really."

Lingard, who played in a similar role in East London, was quite the contract. He found the net nine times and also provided four assists, finishing the season as Moyes' second-highest rated player (7.22) behind Tomas Soucek (7.36).

He's going to be a hard man to replace at the London Stadium but what is clear is that Barkley would be a shocking alternative and one major downgrade, which just isn't what the Irons need as they embark on a historic season.

The £18m-rated dud, who earns an eye-watering £100k-per-week at Stamford Bridge, must not be signed this summer, whatever the circumstance.

Moyes simply risks a transfer disaster with this one.

AND in other news, Moyes must axe £85k-p/w West Ham flop who's "strolled about", he's cost £722k per game...