West Ham manager David Moyes has made a “clear choice” to go after Manchester United attacking midfielder Jesse Lingard, rather than Chelsea’s Ross Barkley, according to Hugh Southon.

The insider, writing on his website the Claret & Hugh, says there is no chance that Barkley will be arriving at the London Stadium this summer, despite reports at the end of last week suggesting he was a target for the Hammers.

Moyes worked with Barkley at Everton so the transfer links are not a surprise, considering the 27-year-old is reportedly deemed surplus to requirements by Chelsea.

However, Lingard’s impressive form at the end of last season has persuaded Moyes that the Manchester United star should be the priority. There are still doubts over whether a deal can be finalised, but there have been claims in recent days that the player will hold out for a move to the Irons. We shall see if that does actually happen.