Jesse Lingard and Manchester United have hit a roadblock in their contract negotiations as the player’s camp have decided not to renew his contract with the club.
Jesse Lingard will be leaving Old Trafford on a free Transfer next season after rejuvenating his career at West Ham in a brilliant six-month spell in which he played a key role in the London club’s return to European competition.
West Ham fans were pressuring the club to keep Lingard and were disappointed when the 28-year-old chose to return to Old Trafford to fight for his place. However, Lingard seems to be losing that battle as he has only seen 63 minutes of action this season for Manchester United.
It has now been reported by The Times that the 28-year-old will leave Old Trafford at the end of his contract which expires this season.
Jesse Lingard and his topsy-turvy Manchester United career
Jesse Lingard joined Manchester United at age seven and has represented the club at every level of club competition, a testament to his talents as a footballer. Before making his official senior debut for Manchester United in 2015, he had loan stints at Leicester City, Birmingham City, Brighton and Hove Albion, and Derby County.
He has since managed just under 250 appearances for Manchester United and has scored 35 goals, mostly as a squad player. His career has also been marred by slight injuries which kept him out of the squad at times when he would have had more opportunities. However, his battle with mental health issues has affected his time at United more than other issues.
In an interview while on loan at West Ham, Lingard admitted that he considered taking a break from football due to his personal struggles. “I was going into games happy sitting on the bench and that’s not me,” Lingard said in the interview.
“I didn’t want to play because my mind wasn’t there, I wasn’t focused at all. I was thinking about other things and obviously bottling it all up; trying to play football, you can’t do it.”
After finding himself again at West Ham and returning to the club that helped him start his career with the hopes of making it there, he has now hit a roadblock and is looking like returning to square one with his career.
Manchester United disrespectful towards Lingard, sources claim
Reports from The Times claim that Manchester United are offering Jesse Lingard a new contract with less salary than he already earns on his present contract, which the midfielder’s party finds disrespectful.
This has led to contract talks being called off and Lingard looking to go on loan for the remaining six months of his present contract in order to get some game time and stay sharp for when he leaves on a free at the end of his contract.
It will benefit both parties to allow Lingard leave the club at this time, however, as he isn’t getting any younger and may never really get the playing time he wants within the club. It’ll also be beneficial for the club as they have Shola Shoretire in their youth ranks, who has played a few games for the senior team and is a perfect Jesse Lingard replacement.
