The future of Jesse Lingard at Manchester United is in question and AC Milan are one of several clubs that have been showing recent interest in the player, according to a report by ESPN.
Lingard is looking for an opportunity for more playing time. He did well while on loan at West Ham United last season, but appearances this season have been rather limited. He’s looking for a chance to showcase his abilities in hopes of making England’s 2022 World Cup squad.
AC Milan Interest in Jesse Lingard
The Player and the Fit
Lingard’s contract expires this summer. Due to Milan’s financial restrictions, which have been looser lately, this type of deal is great for them. Brahim Diaz presents Milan’s primary playmaking option. Wingers Rafael Leao and Ante Rebic play a role in this but are not necessarily the “playmaking” type. The same goes for striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who focuses more (and rightly so) on scoring goals.
This leaves a void in the playmaking spot. It’s also important to note that Diaz is not a permanent Milan player, as Real Madrid maintain a buy-back option.
In 16 Premier League appearances with West Ham last season, Lingard contributed to 14 goals. This includes nine goals and five assists. That was his best statistical performance in the Premier League, but he had plenty of fine outings for United in the past.
Due to his time at United and in England, Jesse Lingard carries plenty of experience. This Milan squad is rather young outside of a few outliers such as Ibrahimovic, Olivier Giroud, and Simon Kjaer. Injecting more experience is almost always a good thing. He’s also 29-years-old, so he likely has a few years left in his tank. Milan are on the path to another Champions League qualification, so they must beef up their squad in hopes of making it past the group stage next season.
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