Newcastle United’s hopes of signing Manchester United midfielder Jesse Lingard this summer could take a blow, according to reports.
The Magpies have been linked with signing the former England international, who played a starring role on loan at West Ham during the second half of last season. However, reports suggest that Lingard may still have a future at Old Trafford when Erik ten Hag replaces Ralf Rangnick in the summer.
The Sun have claimed that despite Lingard being low down the pecking order, Ten Hag is keen to hold talks with the midfielder over potentially staying at the club.
“Jesse hasn’t been happy this season,” said a Sun source. “He feels let down that he hasn’t played as much as he wanted and feels promises made to him when he came back from West Ham haven’t been kept.
“He was resigned to the idea that he was going to leave and make a fresh start at another club. But Ten Hag has let it be known he wants to speak with him and if he gives him the assurances he needs, Jesse could be persuaded to stay. United is his club and he’s never wanted to leave.”
The report also claims that if Lingard’s future is away from Man United, a move to Newcastle would be preferred. Given their form, new-found spending power and significant rise up the table since Eddie Howe’s arrival earlier this season, it is hardly a surprise.
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Lingard has played 16 times in the Premier League this season but has started in just two of those, with both of those starts coming this month. The midfielder, while on loan at West Ham in the second half of last season, scored nine times in 16 appearances in a run that saw the Hammers qualify for the Europa League.
United themselves have had a disappointing season that currently sees them sat sixth in the table with just three games to go. Sixth would qualify them for the Europa League, but seventh-placed West Ham are just three points behind and have played a game less than the Red Devils.
Since Rangnick’s arrival, United have picked up 37 points from 22 league games, the fifth highest in the league. However, they have played more matches than any other team in that time. Newcastle have earned just a point less since Rangnick arrived and have played one less games in that time.
Newcastle are currently tenth having seen themselves astronomically rise up the table since Howe succeeded Steve Bruce and the club were taken over by Saudi-led consortium PIF.
They spent big in the January window and the quintet arrivals of Dan Burn, Kieran Trippier, Bruno Guimaraes, Chris Wood and Matt Targett have all played vital roles in their success.
Had the league started when Howe arrived, Newcastle would be seventh and level on points with United. Only the ‘big six’ clubs have better records in the league since Howe’s arrival.
