After being reduced to a fringe player at Manchester United last season, we’re tracking the latest Jesse Lingard transfer news to see if a move is on the cards.
The 27-year-old has been at Old Trafford for all of his career but may now need to look further afield to receive more time on the pitch.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer kept the England international on the bench for the Europa League semi-final loss to Sevilla, showing once again how he has slipped down the pecking order.
Looking at the latest Jesse Lingard transfer odds and rumours, these are the leading contenders to try and lure him away from United:
EVERTON @ 5/1
Carlo Ancelotti can call on a number of exciting young forwards but could do with a bit more experience in behind the likes of Richarlison, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Moise Kean and Tom Davies. Staying in the North-West region would almost certainly suit Lingard, who has had to deal with family issues over the past year.
WEST HAM @ 5/1
Speculation is rife that David Moyes would like to link up again with both Lingard and United defender Phil Jones, having worked with them during an ill-fated spell at Old Trafford in the 2013/14 campaign, although Lingard was loaned out to Birmingham and Brighton for much of that season. Moyes likes attacking midfielders who are also prepared to work hard and Lingard has the energy and athleticism to handle such a role. Also, the Hammers have splashed the cash on some high-profile foreign imports who have failed to deliver, so Lingard may be regarded as a safer bet to succeed.
LEICESTER @ 5/1
There were suggestions that Lingard could be used as bait in a player-plus-cash offer for Foxes star James Maddison, but he has now signed a new long-term deal at King Power Stadium. Even so, Lingard has the kind of qualities which would fit in nicely with Brendan Rodgers’ style of play and scored against City on the final day of last season.
TOTTENHAM @ 8/1
Lingard scored some crucial goals for United during Jose Mourinho’s first season in charge, notably in a 2-1 Community Shield win over Leicester and a 3-2 EFL Cup final triumph against Southampton. He also featured as a second-half substitute in the Europa League final victory over Ajax. Lingard was given a long-term contract and a big pay rise at the end of that campaign. Mourinho, now in charge of Spurs, hailed him as a “popular member of the squad” and added: “Jesse has good intelligence which, when combined with his energy and ability, makes for a player with a great future ahead of him.”
AC MILAN @ 8/1
Rossoneri striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic played alongside Lingard at United, grabbing the other two goals in that thrilling win over the Saints at Wembley, and could recommend him to his current club. Lingard recently compared Ibrahimovic to Michael Jordan, stating: “As soon as he came to United, you could feel that aura around him. He had that winning mentality and that drove us, motivated us to win many trophies.”
