Jesse Lingard is set to remain with Manchester United for the 2021/22 season, according to The Athletic‘s Laurie Whitwell.
The 28-year-old midfielder enjoyed a fruitful spell with West Ham United in the second half of last season but after a summer of speculation over a permanent move, nothing has progressed.
Jesse Lingard to Stay at Manchester United
One Year Remaining on Contract
Jesse Lingard has one year remaining on his current contract at Manchester United. Ideally, for the club, a sale would have generated some cash and eliminated him from the wage budget, however, Manchester United’s £30 million demand proved too much.
The club will likely now have to decide whether to offer the England international a new contract or allow him to leave on a free transfer next summer.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has remained constant in his desire for Jesse Lingard to stay at the club throughout the summer window and it looks like he’s getting his wish.
Lingard is also said to want to remain at Old Trafford, where, except for loans spells, he has been since he was around seven or eight years old.
Last Chance for Jesse Lingard at Manchester United
Perhaps staying at Manchester United will give the midfielder one last chance to prove himself. Though, it’s difficult to see, even at his best, him overtaking Bruno Fernandes and co in Solskjaer’s preferred starting line-up.
That said, Lingard is a boyhood United fan and will be happier than the average footballer to play a more rotational role at the club.
Also, Cristiano Ronaldo’s return to the club may have proved to be a tempting proposition to stick around.
West Ham United, among others, were interested in Lingard. But given Lingard’s return to form at the London Stadium last season, The Hammers were always considered favourites. It seems their inability to sign Lingard forced them to look elsewhere. They recently confirmed the signing of Nikola Vlasic.
Lingard was involved in 14 goals in 16 games for West Ham, scoring nine of them. He earned himself a recall to Gareth Southgate’s England squad, which he has returned to this month following his Euro 2020 omission. Manchester United’s number 14 will no doubt remember his time under David Moyes fondly.
Lingard impressed in pre-season for United and will continue to give Ole Gunnar Solskjaer a wealth of options in attack.
He made his first appearance of the season from the bench v Southampton with his team in search of a winner. His selection over Donny van de Beek was eye-opening, to say the least.
Anthony Elanga Will Also Stay
Youngster Anthony Elanga – who made his debut v Leicester City last season before scoring v Wolverhampton Wanderers on the final day – is also set to remain at Old Trafford.
United fielded enquiries from a number of clubs to take the 19-year-old on loan but it has been decided that he will be best served to remain in-and-around the Red Devils’ first-team.
Elanga in particularly has looked like a very mature player for his age and also impressed in pre-season before picking up an injury.
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