Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has made a decision about Jesse Lingard’s future, according to a report.
The midfielder was loaned to West Ham in January and an extraordinary streak of form by the 28-year-old helped the Hammers move into the top four. Lingard scored nine goals in his first 10 Premier League games to push West Ham into the Champions League. However, they have lost a beat in recent weeks and now it seems likely that they will struggle to reach the top six.
Lingard’s form has led to much speculation about his future. There will only be one year left on their contract with Man Utd when he returns, so they face a difficult decision about him. And, according to 90min that decision has been made.
Solskjaer sees no future for Lingard at United, even though his rebirth had brought him retirement from England. Gareth Southgate gave Lingard a return to the Three Lions team for the final World Cup qualifiers and Lingard started against San Marino and appeared as a substitute against Albania and Poland.
Southgate was clearly impressed with Lingard’s run of nine goals and four assists in 14 Premier League games in the capital.
However, the United boss will allow Lingard to move on. West Ham would love to sign the Warrington-born midfielder, but the finances of the deal may prove out of reach.
Such a move may also appeal to Lingardgiven the way it has settled there.
But, according to the Daily Mail, Lingard wants a four-year contract worth at least £ 100,000 per week. West Ham just can’t afford that, especially without European football.
Chief David Moyes even expressed doubts about a deal last Friday.
“Actually, I’m not sure how realistic it is,” Moyes said. “Obviously, I think Jesse had fun, I hope he did…
“We’ve enjoyed having him and he’s the Manchester United player, so you can decide what to do with him, and if you want to let him go, hopefully he will consider us one of his options.
“We have enjoyed having him and I’m sure he liked being here too. He’s getting a lot of praise and he’s back in the England team.
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Tottenham’s interest
“I hope he wins the Euro and in time we will know if Jesse is going to be a Manchester United player or if he will play for someone else.”
Athletic have reported that West Ham feels their only chance of getting Lingard is through a partial exchange deal. The obvious carrot to hang up on would be Declan Rice, a player who has been tracked by United for a while.
However, there is another interest in Lingard. And 90min they say that “Tottenham is a club that is watching closely”.
However, again any possible deal could hinge on whether the Spurs can finish at the European venues.
The Spurs may have some money to spend if they sell Harry Kane. Sky Sports has reported that Kane has told Daniel Levy that he wants to leave this summer after nearly leaving the club last summer.
Tottenham are considering replacing Kane this summer and while Levy is understood to loathe selling him to Premier League rival Lingard as a middleweight, he could make a deal.
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