Paul Scholes has suggested Erik ten Hag could keep hold of Jesse Lingard this summer, despite the winger being out of contract at Manchester United.
Lingard looks set to leave Old Trafford at the end of the season, having already come close to departing on two separate occasions over the past year. Having missed out on a return to West Ham last summer, the 29-year-old looked set to head on loan to Newcastle in January, only to have his move blocked by United.
Having spent the second half of last season on loan with the Hammers, Lingard has since struggled to force his way into the United side. The England international has made 22 appearances across all competitions this season, with the majority of his chances coming from the bench.
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The academy graduate also found himself in hot water over the weekend after former team-mate Scholes revealed Lingard had labelled the United dressing room a ‘disaster’. Scholes admitted in an interview with talkSPORT on Tuesday he regretted making their conversation public.
“I’ve had a little bit of stick for that. I don’t know why I did it! Sometimes words just come out of your mouth,” Scholes said. “I have spoken to him since. It’s probably best I don’t tell you what he said!”
Scholes though did slam his former club for their treatment of Lingard over the past year. And, while the 29-year-old looks set to leave this summer, Scholes believes his time at Old Trafford might not yet be over.
“I think Jesse’s been treated pretty poorly by the club to be honest with you,” Scholes added. “He was ready to sign for Newcastle at one point, Newcastle or West Ham right at the end of deadline day, and he was told he was going to be given more minutes, and that clearly hasn’t happened.
“I think he’s deserved a chance, because we all saw what he did at West Ham. Jesse’s a really good footballer, he can bring goals to a team, and with this team playing so poorly as well and for him not to get a chance as he was promised, I think he’s been a bit unfairly treated.
“I have a feeling with the way Ten Hag plays at Ajax, I think he might even want to keep Jesse, but we’ll see what happens. Jesse’s a Manchester lad, he’s obviously never really wanted to leave Manchester United, and if this manager wants him, why wouldn’t he stay?”
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