Man Utd: Pundit discusses Solskjaer's transfer plans
Manchester United star Jesse Lingard is attracting interest from four Premier League clubs, reports say. However, the England international may end up staying until 2022 with the Red Devils mulling over whether to trigger a one-year extension in the player’s contract. Lingard has struggled for form under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
United boss Solskjaer managed Lingard at academy level and, when he took over as Jose Mourinho’s successor, made the England international an important member of his squad.
However, the 27-year-old has struggled for form ever since - failing to register a single Premier League goal or assist all season.
Lingard’s career has stalled ever since the 2018 World Cup, where he flourished for Gareth Southgate as England made the semi-finals of the competition.
Yet, despite that, 90min say United could trigger a extension in the playmaker’s contract.
Should that happen, the report says he’ll be given the role of a squad player - rather than first-teamer next season.
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The four clubs wanting to sign Lingard are Leicester, West Ham, Newcastle and Everton.
But United could end up keeping hold of the player, who rose up through the ranks to become an established star at Old Trafford.
Lingard has found minutes tough to come by - particularly since January.
United signed Bruno Fernandes that same month and the Portugal international has been a huge success, being directly involved in six goals from eight games.
Lingard may find game time even harder to get should United be successful in their pursuit of Jack Grealish, who has impressed at Aston Villa.
“I think he did so much in such a compact space of time – he did brilliantly for England, brilliantly for United in the space of about three years – that he set his standards really, really high. Scoring in cup finals, helping England to get to a World Cup semi-final – people then expect that every single week.
“Sometimes you get to a point where you can become stale at a football club, maybe the fans don’t believe in you like they used to, going to get a fresh start might help."
He then added: “Going to a top club like Everton, with a great manager there, that might just help him ignite it.
"He could be an integral part of what Ancelotti is building.”