There are just 15 days remaining in the transfer window and West Ham assistant coach Stuart Pearce has confirmed the club's desire to bring back Jesse Lingard to the club.
David Moyes has made it clear he is keen to add to his squad before the end of August but has refused to be drawn on any names when questioned about the Hammers' transfer activity.
The boss has maintained his stance that he will not talk about other teams players because "it is not what you do when you are a manager."
However, Pearce has made it clear that Lingard would be welcomed back to the London Stadium with open arms but added the caveat the decision rests with Manchester United, not the Hammers.
"We would like him to come and join us. That has been an open secret. He was wonderful last year," Pearce told talkSPORT.
"The ball is in Manchester United’s court. He is contracted to them. We would like him with us, there is no doubt about that.
"He’s a special lad and was very good around the players, the players really like him. His ability shone out last year and gave us a great option in our squad.
"You never know, but at this moment in time it looks like he is fighting for a place in the United line-up."
Pearce left no doubt that Lingard would be a welcome addition to the Hammers squad but with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer claiming the England international has a key role at Old Trafford a transfer is by no means an inevitability.
Speaking after Manchester United's devastating 5-1 win over Leeds, Solskjaer was full of praise for star midfielders Paul Pogba and Bruno Fernandes but claimed Lingard is still an important figure at the club.
"Don’t forget Jesse Lingard who has re-invented himself and has come back the man that we know he is with the quality," Solskjaer said. "He is going to play a big part as well."
