Transfer reporter Fabrizio Romano has issued an exciting update on the future of West Ham and Newcastle target Jesse Lingard.
It was one of the worst kept secrets of the January transfer window that West Ham were vying with Newcastle in a bid to sign Lingard.
West Ham were trying to sign the 29-year-old Man United bit-part player on deadline day as were Newcastle (The Athletic’s David Ornstein).
Lingard spent four months on loan at West Ham last season and was a huge hit with the Hammers.
David Moyes was desperate to make his move permanent in the summer but Ole Gunnar Solskjaer wanted to keep Lingard at Old Trafford.
The attacker has barely kicked a ball this season, though, hence the links with West Ham and Newcastle in January.
Man United would not allow Lingard to join a direct rival in West Ham and Ralf Rangnick admitted he could not allow him to go to Newcastle either following Mason Greenwood’s suspension from the Red Devils squad.
Lingard will be available on a free transfer in the summer if he fails to agree a new deal.
There has been some speculation that Lingard may spring something of a surprise and eventually agree a new contract at Man United to remain at his boyhood club as a bit-part player.
Fabrizio Romano issues exciting update on future of West Ham and Newcastle target Jesse Lingard
But transfer reporter Romano has issued an exciting update for West Ham and Newcastle fans over the future of Lingard.
According to the Italian, Lingard still fully intends to leave Man United this summer.
And that will be music to the ears of Moyes and Eddie Howe.
Although the queue for Lingard’s services will undoubtedly grow if and when he becomes a free agent.
“Jesse Lingard is expected to leave Manchester United as free agent in June,” Romano said on Twitter.
“He’ll be respectful and professional until end of the season – but the plan has not changed.”
Wherever Lingard chooses to go, he will expect to be weighed in significantly when it comes to a signing on fee.
That should not be a problem for most top clubs, though, given there is no transfer fee to pay.
West Ham will be hoping his hugely positive spell in east London would put them somewhere near the front of the queue.
Indeed football journalist Peter O’Rourke recently told Give Me Sport that the Hammers have a ‘very good chance’ of signing the 29-year-old Manchester United attacker in the summer.
But much will likely depend on whether the Hammers are playing in Europe again next season and whether they can hold on to his close friend Declan Rice.
West Ham will also be concerned by comments from Newcastle co-owner Amanda Staveley to The Athletic claiming Lingard wanted a move to Newcastle in January.