Whelan Urges Everton To Move In For This Manchester United Star: Good Fit For Rafa?

In a recent interview with Football Insider, former Leeds United forward Noel Whelan urged Everton to move in for Jesse Lingard. Whelan said,

“He’s not going to have to go far to travel.

“He probably won’t have to leave his house and uproot. He’ll just have to travel to wherever he needs to be.

“I think Everton are missing that number 10, absolutely. Now that Rodriguez has gone, you’re missing that X factor, that one player that can produce, that can open up the doors.

“Think about the players on either side of what he could have as well, Calvert-Lewin, Richarlison. It’s a mouthwatering prospect thinking about the front four they could have.

“Jesse Lingard could be that missing piece of the puzzle. He could bring the best out of that front three. There’s no doubt in my mind if he did go to Everton, West Ham, wherever, he would be a success.

“He’s one of those players that gets you on the edge of your seat, can make something out of nothing. His link-up play is fantastic but you also know that he’s going to come up with assists and goals through the season.

“He probably should be knocking on double figures when you look at his stats.”

Lingard’s Limited Role At The Theatre Of Dreams

Lingard is currently playing a sporadic presence in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s first-team but has still put in a few impressive displays for the Red Devils in the final third. The 28-year-old has found the back of the net twice in seven matches this season on all fronts.

The England international has seen most of his game time off the bench which explains why he is only averaging 0.8 shots, 0.5 key passes and 0.3 dribbles per game in the Premier League. He has even been tidy when distributing the ball in the opposition half, as evidenced by his pass completion rate of 97.2% in league football (stats via whoscored).

Is Lingard A Good Fit For Everton Boss Rafael Benitez?

Lingard has a football IQ that helps him make some clever sprints with the ball in the opposition half. He has got the vision to create some decent chances for others around him and can strike the ball with power and precision from long range.

However, the lack of game time has hampered his progress at Old Trafford which is why it is understandable why the player has been reluctant to pen a new deal with the Mancunian club so far. Hence, the Toffees would be wise to listen to Whelan’s advice by making a move to sign Lingard on a cut-price deal in January or offer him a contract when he becomes a free agent next summer.

At 28, the Three Lions playmaker is still playing at his peak that makes him a decent fit for Everton to consider in 2022. With all things considered, Rafael Benitez would be wise to orchestrate a move to bring him to Goodison Park because he will undeniably enhance the quality of his first XI for the coming seasons.