If there were any doubts about Nottingham Forest’s ambition on their return to the Premier League, the package worth nearly £200,000 a week handed to Jesse Lingard should end them instantly.
Forest had already caught the eye by spending more than £70million on nine new players, but signing Lingard takes their summer spending to a completely different level. Where other promoted clubs spend little and bank the television money, Forest have pushed the boat out.
This is a player who West Ham – the closest challengers to the big six last season – were prepared to pay £150,000 a week to join them, and who still hopes to force his way into England’s World Cup squad.