Lingard looks for United exit as deal talks collapse
⮞ Forward bemused by club’s offer of below his current salary ⮞ Player fears lack of game time threatens his England chances
Jesse Lingard is moving closer to leaving Manchester United after talks over a new contract collapsed.
The England forward looks increasingly likely to depart at the end of the season when his deal expires as his frustration with the club grows. It is understood that Lingard has little intention of resuming negotiations after being left bemused by United’s approach.
The first offer United made to Lingard this season is believed to have been worth less than his present salary, and the 28-year-old is equally disappointed by his lack of playing time, despite being given assurances in the summer by manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer that he would feature more regularly.
Lingard, who has been at United since he was seven and who made 218 first-team appearances after graduating from the academy, has yet to start a Premier League game this season, even though he has come off the bench to score twice in the competition and impressed when called upon. His only start came in a Carabao Cup defeat by West Ham in September. He was particularly confused about why Daniel James started United’s first two games of the season, against Leeds United and Wolves, when the Wales winger was available for transfer and was subsequently sold to Leeds two days after the Wolves match.
Lingard is now considering asking to be loaned out for the second half of the season. He is exasperated at the lack of meaningful opportunities he felt he was promised, even though so many team-mates have struggled for form during United’s poor start to the season.
Solskjaer’s side face Watford at Vicarage Road tomorrow, having taken just four points from the past 18 as pressure grows on the manager. They have lost six of their past 12 games in all competitions. Lingard was outstanding on loan at West Ham during the second half of last season, scoring nine goals and assisting five more in 16 appearances, but he was happy to stay at Old Trafford this term in the belief he would play.
Barcelona, AC Milan and Atletico Madrid are thought to be among the clubs who have registered an interest in signing Lingard on a free transfer at the end of the season. One of the player’s representatives is understood to have held talks with a potential suitor in Spain.
West Ham were keen to bring Lingard back to the London Stadium in the summer, but United made it clear the player was not for sale. It remains to be seen if West Ham, third in the Premier League and level on points with champions Manchester City, seek to loan Lingard again in January in pursuit of Champions League qualification, although United may be wary of allowing the player to join a rival for a top-four spot. West Ham are six points above United. Solskjaer has spoken publicly about his desire to keep Lingard, but the player fears he has dropped too far down the pecking order and is concerned about the impact on his England prospects. Lingard was dropped from Gareth Southgate’s squad for this month’s World Cup qualifying matches against
Albania and San Marino owing to a lack of playing time. But he is desperate to be part of the World Cup squad in Qatar and recognises he needs to be playing regularly to stand any hope of going. The uncapped pairing of Conor Gallagher and Emile Smith Rowe were still picked ahead of Lingard when Marcus Rashford and Mason Mount pulled out of
the squad.