Recent reports from The Sun suggest that Manchester United midfielder Jesse Lingard is keen on staying at Old Trafford beyond this summer as ‘his heart belongs to the club’.
The report further states that the player put forward his views on rebuilding his career as a Manchester United player in a recent meeting he had with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Jesse Lingard’s Phenomenal Spell At London Stadium
From struggling to get minutes under Solskjaer to narrowly missing out on a place in Gareth Southgate’s England squad– it’ll be an understatement to say that Lingard’s move to West Ham rejuvenated his career and restored him to the frame.
With thirteen-goal contributions in sixteen appearances for the Hammers, the 28-year-old hit the ground running at his new club as he set new standards every week under David Moyes.
Lingard managed to put up some awe-inspiring numbers on the board in the second half of last season as he averaged 2.6 shots, 1.1 key passes, 1.1 dribbles, 0.4 crosses, and 1 long ball per 90 minutes in the Premier League. Besides, with an average WhoScored rating of 7.22, he established himself as one of the chief creators of his side.
It’d be fair to say that if the England international manages to show the same consistency in the long run, he’d be a decent addition to the present United squad.
Does Solskjaer Really Need Him?
The Norwegian coach has plenty of options to choose from when it comes to the attacking midfield position, and it’s beyond any doubt that the Englishman will have to face some tough competition if he wishes to feature regularly in United’s starting eleven. Besides, the signing of a right-winger in the ongoing transfer window might further diminish his chances of achieving the same and given his age; it’s doubtful that he’d be willing to spend another season in the sporadic role.
On the other hand, David Moyes is a huge admirer of the Warrington-born midfielder, and he wants to make the loan move permanent. Under such circumstances, it’d be better if the United board puts an affordable price tag on the player. He’ll potentially attract a lot of interest in the coming months, and a summer sale would make perfect sense for all the parties involved.
(Stats: WhoScored)
