Crystal Palace have been boosted in their pursuit of Donny van de Beek by Jesse Lingard’s proposed move to Newcastle being on the brink of collapse.
Palace have stepped up their attempts to sign Van de Beek on loan and are increasingly confident of securing a deal for the Netherlands international before next Monday’s deadline.
United are open to allowing Van de Beek to leave this month and have held positive talks with Palace over a straight loan deal until the end of the season.
The deal hinges on whether the two clubs can agree a loan fee, with Van de Beek also believed to be keen on a move to Selhurst Park.
Palace’s hopes of landing the 24-year-old have been helped by the fact that Lingard now looks set to stay at Old Trafford after United blocked his move to Newcastle.
United manager Ralf Rangnick is reluctant to leave himself short of cover in the second half of the season and it is uncertain if he would allow both Van de Beek and Lingard to go.
But Lingard’s exit is now in serious doubt after United demanded a £12million survival payment from Newcastle if the England international helped them avoid relegation.
That has infuriated the player and the feeling among sources close to him is that he will remain at Old Trafford until the summer, when he will be out of contract.
It paves the way for Van de Beek to join Palace, with Patrick Vieira seeing the midfielder as being perfect to the style of play he is trying to instil at Selhurst Park.
Van de Beek is desperate to play more regular first-team football, while United also see the benefits of lifting his confidence and giving him more Premier League experience ahead of a return to the club in the summer, when a new permanent manager will make a decision on his long-term future.
Palace boss Vieira is pushing to bring in the former Ajax star to build on an encouraging first half of the season.
Lingard, meanwhile, has also been left frustrated by United’s refusal to enter negotiations with West Ham or Tottenham over a potential loan because they are seen as top-four rivals.
Lingard is set to be one of the most sought-after free agents in the summer after rejecting United’s attempts to tie him down to a long-term deal. He is determined to make Gareth Southgate’s England squad for the World Cup in Qatar this year and knows he needs regular football to be in contention.
