Jesse Lingard has decided he will certainly leave Manchester United in the summertime after being snubbed by Ralf Rangnick throughout the Red Devils’ 3-0 victory over Brentford on Monday, in line with reports. England star Lingard saw Edinson Cavani, Fred and Phil Jones all be used as substitutes ahead of him.
Rangnick’s failure to make use of the attacking midfielder compounded the player’s frustration, in line with the Mirror. Lingard is seemingly fed up over an absence of game time, having played just 16 times within the Premier League this season.
The 29-year-old’s contract expires in the summertime and he might be one in all a number of high-profile free agents, with clubs hoping for a summer bargain. Express Sport looks at 4 of United’s top-flight rivals who can benefit from their failure to utilise Lingard.
Newcastle
Oil-rich Newcastle got here near signing Lingard in January. United interim boss Rangnick had apparently gone so far as giving his blessing for the academy graduate to depart.
But this was at a time when Premier League clubs’ fury over Newcastle’s takeover last October remained strong. Rivals were unwilling to do deals with the Magpies, who ended up spending £80million within the winter window.
JUST IN: Leeds braced for Barcelona bid for ‘primary goal’ Raphinha
West Ham
It was a loan spell with the Hammers that revived Lingard’s England and Premier League profession. He scored nine goals in 16 appearances in a short lived switch to the London Stadium within the second half of the 2020-21 campaign.
The 32-times Three Lions ace played a key role in David Moyes’ side qualifying for the Europa League. He might watch on with some regret as West Ham face Eintracht Frankfurt of their semi-final second leg clash on Thursday.
Moyes was keen for Lingard to be signed on a everlasting deal but United priced them out of a move. Lingard also desired to test himself back at Old Trafford, but his renewed stance could see him return to East London.
Aston Villa
Villa boss Steven Gerrard harbours strong hopes of retaining loanee Philippe Coutinho this summer. The Brazilian will return to Barcelona having rekindled his status as a top attacking midfielder, having scored 4 goals and assisted an additional two within the Premier League since January.
Nevertheless, if the Villans cannot agree a fee with Barca then turning their attention to Lingard would hand them a wonderful alternative. There are unlikely to be many higher free agents available for a club of Villa’s stature.
Lingard can be given a free role behind Villa’s two strikers in Gerrard’s preferred diamond-midfield formation.
