According to some sources, Manchester United could lose Jesse Lingard for free in the summer after the midfielder decided to put off contract talks due to a lack of playing time at Old Trafford.
Lingard has already turned down one offer to extend his contract, which expires in seven months, and has no plans to resume talks after appearing in just one game this season, a Carabao Cup defeat to West Ham in September.
His Representatives were Angry
Lingard and his representatives, according to insiders, have been frustrated by some of United’s actions. United’s original contract offer was said to be below the parameters of his previous contract and promises made in the summer that he would be a key part of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s plans this season were not kept.
He’s only played 63 minutes in five Premier League substitute appearances this season, but he’s already scored twice, including a late winner against West Ham in September.
Lingard could also request a loan move in January before his contract expires on June 30. Barcelona and AC Milan are among the European teams interested in signing Lingard on a free transfer next summer, while West Ham, Newcastle, Tottenham, and Everton are among the Premier League clubs interested.
Last season, Lingard had a good loan spell at West Ham, scoring nine goals in 16 games to win a spot in Southgate’s tentative Euro 2020 team. Southgate chose to call up previously uncapped Emile Smith Rowe and Conor Gallagher, both regulars for their club sides this season, instead of him for the last set of international games.
Another Way
Another alternative is for Lingard to go on loan for the second half of the season, to force his way back into Gareth Southgate’s England team for the Qatar World Cup in 2022. This might lead to a move for West Ham United to sign a Man United academy product who spent last season on loan at West Ham and had a fantastic season.
With European football on the horizon, David Moyes may decide that some additional squad depth would be beneficial to his club, and Lingard would be an excellent addition to rotate with an already great attacking trio. Lingard scored the game-winning goal in the 2016 FA Cup final, United’s first title in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era, in the last match under Louis van Gaal.
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