Rio Ferdinand questions Jesse Lingard transfer with brutal Nottingham Forest putdown

Rio Ferdinand has questioned Jesse Lingard's decision to join Nottingham Forest after his impressive loan stint at West Ham United during the 2020/21 campaign.

The 29-year-old agreed a one-year deal at the City Ground last month after departing Old Trafford upon 11 years at Manchester United. Lingard made his Premier League debut for the Reds in the defeat at Newcastle United, featuring the full 90 minutes.

But his move to Trentside has come as a surprise to many after his stint at the London Stadium in the second-half of the season before last. He scored nine goals in 16 outings, while providing five assists along the way.

However, with it being the Reds' return to the top-flight for the first time in 23 years, the United legend believes Lingard has made the wrong choice. "No [not the right choice to join Forest]," Ferdinand told FIVE.

"West Ham was on the table. They wanted him. It was spoken about for ages. He missed a lot of football went to West Ham and proved what I thought he was always capable of. He got himself back in the England squad.

"He’s gone and signed a one-year deal at Nottingham Forest who will likely be relegation threatened. Jesse, I just feel West Ham was such a great fit, will he be smiling at Nottingham Forest when they don’t have the ball? They’re going to be getting beat every week."