West Ham: Fresh claim emerges on £16.6m Lingard alternative for David Moyes

West Ham United have attacking midfielder Jesse Lingard above Udinese winger Gerard Deulofeu in their ‘pecking order’ of transfer targets, according to Daily Star journalist Paul Brown.

The Hammers are expected to be active when the market reopens for business over the summer as manager David Moyes looks to bolster his first-team squad.

According to Italian news outlet Messaggero Veneto, West Ham are one of several sides from across the continent who are keeping close tabs on Deulofeu’s situation.

It’s claimed that Marseille, Sevilla and Real Betis are also interested in prising the four-cap Spain international away from the Dacia Arena, with the Udinese hierarchy set to demand€20 million (£16.6m) for his services.

However, Deulofeu is not the only forward-thinking star who is believed to be on the radar of the London Stadium outfit.

Manchester United’s Lingard enjoyed an extremely successful six-month spell with West Ham last term, registering nine goals and five assists in 16 Premier League appearances, firing them to a sixth-placed finish.

Erik ten Hag TALKS Man United job! Hear more on The Football Terrace…

A permanent move failed to materialise last summer, though, and the Red Devils turned down the Irons’ approach in January as they were viewed as a direct rival in the race for a top-four finish.

Yet Lingard is set to become a free agent when his contract expires in just a few months’ time, meaning Moyes could finally snap up the Englishman without having to pay a penny.

Brown believes that as Deulofeu and Lingard play a ‘very similar kind of role’, the United ace will be the priority target for West Ham.

He told GiveMeSport: “It’s a very similar kind of role to the one that Lingard played, and I think Lingard is