FOREST LIN RISKY GAMBLE

DOES Jesse Lingard offer Nottingham Forest Premier League quality?

Absolutely.

If he gets up to speed quickly, they’ve got a reasonable chance of him creating chances and scoring.

The problem comes when people start saying – and they are – “Jesse Lingard? £200,000-a-week?”.

Forest would counter by saying they’ve signed him on a free. Had they paid for him, it would have cost a lot more.

I’ve got no problem with that. My issue is something that will be a real test for rookie Premier League manager Steve Cooper.

There is the potential for this transfer to upset the applecart.

If Lingard does what I did at the City Ground – hit the ground running, scoring goals for fun – then brilliant.

But if he doesn’t do that, then it can become a problem.

The gap between the lowest earner and Lingard (below) is going to be pronounced.

And, unless Lingard becomes a player worth £200,000-a-week, you will get agents of other players knocking on the door.

They will say: “Jesse Lingard scored six goals this season, my client has seven. What are you going to do about it?”

It happens at every club.

Is there a better way for Forest to have done this?

Until now, they’ve done well. There’s a solid thought process behind their signings. I get it.

But I just don’t like the thought of Forest going down this route – Lingard is a gamble at this money – after what Cooper did last season.

The success was built on a team ethic, there weren’t any superstars.

The situation is rife for jealousy and, for Forest, going back into the Premier League, it’s a big gamble.

It’s an old chestnut – when you pay someone in a dressing room way more than everyone else, the potential for disruption is huge.

For Forest’s sake, I really hope this one doesn’t end in tears.