According to a recent report by The Independent, Manchester United playmaker, Jesse Lingard wants to stay amid interest from West Ham United. The same source has also stated that the English midfielder is being tracked by the Hammers as well as West Bromwich Albion and Everton this summer.
Lingard’s Growing Struggles At The Theatre Of Dreams This Season
The 27-year-old has endured a frustrating campaign at Old Trafford after failing to find a run of consistency with his performances in the Premier League so far. He has made 36 appearances for the Red Devils this term, registering two goals and two assists in all competitions which highlight his lack of productivity in the final third.
However, Lingard deserves some credit for averaging 1.3 shots, 0.9 key passes and 0.7 dribbles per 90 minutes in the English top-flight and the UEFA Europa League this season. He has also been quite accurate with his ball-distribution after completing 87.2% of his attempted passes in league football (stats via whoscored).
The versatile midfielder has earned 24 senior caps for the English national team, netting four goals for his country in the process. Maybe a change of scenery this summer could help him rediscover his old form and boost his chances of reclaiming a spot in Gareth Southgate’s squad ahead of next year’s UEFA European Championship finals.
What Does The English Midfield Ace Offer On The Field?
On his day, Lingard can be a joy to watch as he possesses the pace and agility to make some driving runs with the ball towards the opposition penalty area. The English playmaker is primarily a right-winger, but can also fill in as a wide player on the left flank or play down the middle as a box-to-box attacking midfielder. His incredible versatility, coupled with his excellent dribbling skills, make him a worthy target for any of his potential suitors. He also excels at interchanging possession with his teammates but needs to improve his end-product in the final third.
Should Man United Sanction Lingard’s Exit This Summer?
At 27, Lingard is running out of time to prove him worth at the highest level. He is in dire need to ensure regular first-team football next season. Therefore, Solskjaer should consider sanctioning his departure this summer as it will also give the Red Devils a chance to move on in search of more success in the years to come.
At best, Lingard has been a utility player in Solskjaer’s squad this season. However, the Man United boss can benefit a lot from replacing him with a more consistent talent before the start of the new campaign. Cutting off deadwood is only part of the rebuilding process, so the Mancunian outfit should let Lingard leave this summer so that they can strengthen their squad even further which might help them taste some silverware in the upcoming campaign.
