Jesse Lingard's Chicken Run visit has West Ham fans convinced he is returning

Jesse Lingard is yet to pick his next destination after leaving Manchester United this summer.

His former loan club West Ham have been leading the charge for his signature over the last few weeks, with Everton tracking alongside, but now Wayne Rooney's arrival at DC United has thrown another name into the ring.

But nowadays professional footballers can't even go for a bucket of chicken wings without everyone getting their knickers in a twist that the shop they pick is a subtle reference to their next destination. It's nailed on West Ham now...apparently.

However, as West Ham fans of a certain age will know the Chicken Run was the nickname for the terracing that ran across West Ham's East Stand at their now, sadly demolished, old stadium the Boleyn Ground. A performance graveyard for many an opposition full-back.

So of course that means he's joining West Ham doesn't it? 'If you know, you know' as a comment doesn't help matters.

'If you know, you know' could be a simple reference to Chicken Run's great produce. It also seems highly unlikely Lingard knows anything about the infamous Chicken Run, as it was converted into seats in 1995, when Lingard was just three.

What next? West Ham's unofficial mascot Chicken Ron coming out of retirement and giving Lingard a hug?