Manchester United star Jesse Lingard has been reborn at West Ham during his loan spell in east London, and the Hammers are believed to be eager to keep him permanently.
However, it’s now emerged that regardless of his contractual status, Lingard could earn United a significant cash windfall this summer.
A report in The Sun claims West Ham will have to pay United a bonus of £500,000 if they qualify for the Champions League.
The Hammers are currently in fifth table after a brilliant season, and are just six points behind fourth-placed Chelsea with a game in hand.
If they are able to overturn the gap to the top-four, they will have to fork out £500,000 to Lingard’s parent club.
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Lingard has been superb since joining David Moyes’ side, and has scored nine times in 13 appearances with four assists.
The playmaker seems to be enjoying his football again, and has a good relationship with the rest of his team-mates.
And West Ham are believed to be eager to sign him permanently this summer, with Moyes impressed with what he’s seen so far.
Mark Noble revealed earlier this week that Lingard is the manager’s favourite player at the London Stadium, and that the two live in the same apartment building.
He told the Peter Crouch podcast: “We do boxes [in training] and he’s not even allowed in the middle!
“Now the lads are on it and it’s a running joke. They live in the same apartment block now and the gaffer loves it as well.
“Jesse will be with us and the gaffer will go: ‘Jess, thanks for bringing me that bottle of wine the other night!’
“He’ll just swallow his Adam’s apple, Jesse, he hasn’t got a comeback.”
Lingard is still under contract at Old Trafford until 2022, but is believed to be willing to join permanently.
