West Ham's chances of bringing Jesse Lingard back to the London Stadium appear to be diminishing with each passing day...

What's the word?

According to the ever-reliable ExWHUemployee, there are several factors going against the Irons and their attempts to secure the 28-year-old playmaker on a permanent basis.

Speaking on his 'The West Ham Way' podcast this week, the anonymous source dropped a big claim, saying things aren't looking as promising on that front as they did at the end of June:

"We are after Lingard for midfield, although things don’t seem as promising as they did a couple of weeks ago.

"I think it’s going to be interesting what the manager says to Lingard because the way he’d be looking at it is that [Jadon] Sancho is more of a winger whereas Lingard’s more of an attacking midfielder.

"I think Sancho going to them is helpful for us. But it’s just whether Lingard is prepared to give up the ghost and come to West Ham or whether he’s going to fight for his place. And also how realistic Manchester United are going to be for a transfer.

"We’re obviously desperate to sign Lingard but there’s a couple of factors counting against that move a little bit."

Bad news?

Indeed, many in East London are clearly eager to see Lingard in the claret and blue next season after he provided nine goals and five assists following his arrival on loan in January.

Speaking after their final game of the season - a win over Southampton that secured their place in Europe - Hammers boss David Moyes made his intentions very clear. He told reporters, 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." Lingard's recent appearance in the England squad (prior to Euro 2020) ramped up excitement amongst the West Ham fanbase as he arrived with an Irons-branded bag, leaving many thinking he wanted to return. However, Ex now states that any move does not look as promising as it once did and even though Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has made a big-money splash for Jadon Sancho, it appears that Lingard could be the back-up to Bruno Fernandes through the middle, rather than an option out wide. The £19.8m-rated dynamo has been at Old Trafford for two decades now, so it's understandable that he may want to stay but he's certainly not going to get as much game time as he would back at the Hammers, where he would be the main star of the squad. Other reports have suggested that the Manchester giants are even prepared to offer Lingard a contract extension and even though this could be to protect his transfer value as he enters the final year of his current deal, it'll almost certainly mean Moyes will have to stump up more funds to secure him. All in all, this latest development should come as disappointing news for the fans, the manager and many more associated with the Hammers.

AND in other news, Moyes could secure West Ham their perfect Noble successor in 34-cap "special talent"...