Jesse Lingard is growing increasingly frustrated with his treatment by Manchester United as they look to delay his move to Newcastle, according to reports.
The England international is set to become a free agent at the end of the season, but hopes to seal an exit during the January window.
Lingard enjoyed a stunning loan spell with West Ham in the back half of last season and returned to Old Trafford with the promise of being regularly involved.
However, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer failed to live up to that with Lingard playing just 88 minutes of Premier League football all season.
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Solskjaer was dismissed in November, but his outlook hasn’t been any more favourable under his replacement Ralf Rangnick, limited to just two short cameos off the bench.
Newcastle are desperate to bring in the 29-year-old as they look for reinforcements in their battle against the drop.
The Magpies are willing to put up a massive loan fee in order to secure the deal, but their Premier League counterparts are understood to be playing hardball.
The Telegraph report that Lingard feels United’s stance shows a lack of respect for a player that has been with the club for more than two decades.
They add that approaches from West Ham and Tottenham were firmly rejected, due to the fact they are competing for a top four place.
That left Lingard frustrated, but he is still open to a move to Newcastle, despite their lowly league position.
But there are now growing fears within the forward’s camp that the Red Devils could block any move and keep him on the bench for the remainder of the campaign.
Newcastle are believed to have launched a £6million offer to acquire Lingard and are happy to pay his entire salary for the duration of his stay in the north East.
Lingard’s representatives are now beginning to fear that Old Trafford chiefs are punishing the player for not agreeing to terms on a new contract, meaning they will be unable to recoup any transfer fees.
Their stance on Lingard’s future goes against Rangnick’s public declaration that the squad he inherited from Solskjaer is too big.
"When you have a big squad, in the last two games, we had most players available and only 10 field players can play and three substitutes,” he said earlier this month.
"Then you have quite a number of players who don't even play or not even in the squad. Those players are unhappy about the situation -- it's obvious, clear.
“We have a big squad; maybe a little bit too big of a squad.”
Lingard’s frustration at Man Utd’s unwillingness to do business will only be exacerbated after the club waived any loan fee to help Anthony Martial seal his own exit.
Martial, like Lingard, was desperate for more first team football with the latter hoping to force his way into England’s World Cup squad.
