Recent reports from The Sun suggest that Manchester United are planning to offer Jesse Lingard a new three-year contract when he returns from his loan spell with the Irons at the end of the season.
The report further states that West Ham United will try their best to make Lingard’s move to the London stadium permanent; however, the board isn’t willing to spend more than £20 million on the English international.
Lingard’s Phenomenal Form At The London Stadium
From struggling to get minutes under Solskjaer to getting recalled to the England squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers – it’ll be an understatement to say that Lingard’s move to the London stadium has rejuvenated his career. With seven-goal contributions in seven appearances for the Hammers, the 28-year-old has hit the ground running at his new club and is setting new standards every week under David Moyes.
Lingard has managed to put up some awe-inspiring numbers on the board this season – averaging 3 shots, 1.1 key passes, 1.4 dribbles, 0.6 crosses, and 1.3 long balls per 90 minutes in the Premier League. Besides, with an average WhoScored rating of 7.48, he has established himself as one of the chief creators of his side.
It’d be fair to say that if Lingard manages to show some 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 upcoming 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.
Under such circumstances, it’d be better if the 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 from WhoScored)
