Paul Merson has played down a January transfer deadline day move for Jesse Lingard, insisting there is there is only "one chance" to play for Manchester United, amid interest from West Ham and Newcastle United.
The Magpies are earnestly splashing their newly found cash, bringing in Kieran Trippier, Chris Wood and Bruno Guimaraes for a combined £70million, and hope to spend more before Monday evening's deadline.
West Ham, meanwhile, have not strengthened their first team thus far this month, joining Newcastle in stepping up efforts to complete a Deadline Day move for Lingard.
"It's a great move for Newcastle but I'm not sure for Lingard, I'm not sure about that because if they don't say up they're playing in the Championship next season," Merson told Sky Sports.
"I think the deals will be done, this is the problem with Newcastle, I think they want people to be signing to say 'you stick with the club, this is a project'. If it's a loan move it's an outstanding move, outstanding.
"For me, I think it gives them the edge of staying up. He's still got another three months of next season before the World Cup's [squad's] picked - football's a funny game, it's all about timing.
"To go and score 12 goals now, it won't make any difference, if you come back in August and score 10 goals in 10 games you're going.
"He's at the biggest club in the world of football, it's a hard one, it's a special club, you get one chance of playing for Man United, when you leave that's it you're not going back.
"He's got great belief, I'm pretty sure he'll be disappointed he hasn't been given that much of an opportunity this season at Man United, I think he should've got more of a chance especially after what he did at West Ham last season, he hasn't got that opportunity. What's happened yesterday, what we keep hearing, he could get a chance, I would stay at Man United."
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