Sheffield United Interested in Signing Jesse Lingard on Loan From Man Utd

19 December 2020 12:30

Sheffield United are the latest side to be linked with a move for out-of-favour Manchester United midfielder Jesse Lingard.

The 28-year-old has managed just 99 minutes of action in the Carabao Cup this season and has spent most of his time in the stands, failing to make the matchday squad for 14 of United's 18 games in the Premier League and Champions League.

Lingard has been out in the cold | James Williamson - AMA/Getty Images

Lingard's agents are understood to be looking for a club to take the Englishman on loan for the remainder of the season, and the Manchester Evening News claim that Sheffield United have joined the race for his signature.

Blades boss Chris Wilder is believed to have spoken with United counterpart Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in the aftermath of Thursday's meeting between the two sides, with Wilder desperately looking to find a way to save his struggling side.

Sheffield United have picked up just one point from their 13 games this season and are already nine points adrift from safety - the worst start in the English top flight since records began in 1888.

Wilder needs new signings | Pool/Getty Images

Wilder knows that he needs to be active in January, but after spending £53m in the summer on the likes of Rhian Brewster and Aaron Ramsdale, money is a little hard to come by and affording Lingard's £100,000-a-week wages may well be impossible.

United may be forced to pay a part of his wages just to get him off the books temporarily, with few sides across Europe keen to invest so much money in a player who has not played competitive football in over three months.

Lingard's contract expires in the summer, meaning United would likely prefer to sell him outright, but they do have the option to extend his deal by a further 12 months, and they are expected to do so to preserve Lingard's value.

Lingard is expected to head out on loan | James Williamson - AMA/Getty Images

Solskjaer will likely be hoping that Lingard heads out on loan and proves that he can still hang at a high level, which could lead to a permanent sale this summer.

Talks over a loan for Lingard have also been held with La Liga side Real Sociedad, Celtic, Rangers and Leicester City have all been linked with a move for the midfielder in recent months.


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Source: 90min