Rio Ferdinand believes Arsenal fans would not accept the signing of Manchester United midfielder Jesse Lingard.
Lingard is enjoying the form of his career during a loan spell at West Ham United currently, scoring eight and assisting four in just nine Premier League appearances.
That form has helped the Hammers climb into fourth, giving them a real shot of making the Champions League, and David Moyes may opt to try to sign Lingard permanently this summer.
But according to recent reports, Arsenal could also be interested in a move if they cannot complete the permanent signing of loan star Martin Odegaard this summer.
But former Manchester United defender turned pundit Ferdinand believes the Gunners fans would reject Lingard, who is reportedly valued at around £30million, due to a celebration he did after scoring against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium two years ago.
"Yeah but you know what, they [Arsenal fans] wouldn’t have him there," Ferdinand said on his FIVE YouTube channel.
"The way he moonwalked off that pitch once, they wouldn’t have it. The fans would rip the place apart. He disrespected the Emirates in a way that hadn’t been seen.
"Listen West Ham will have a fight to get him by the way because I think other teams are going to be like: ‘Listen, we want him!’
"He’s not going to go to Arsenal over West Ham obviously, but there will be other teams. He ain’t going nowhere near Arsenal."
Arsenal fans might just find some forgiveness for that celebration if there is a chance Lingard could continue his form into a career in north London.
Though, it's Odegaard who is top of Arsenal's shortlist with Mikel Arteta and Edu keen to make the Norwegian's loan move permanent, even if they face an uphill battle to convince Real Madrid.
