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From starting at Luzhniki Stadium in England’s World Cup semi-final loss to Croatia to barely seeing Manchester United, Jesse Lingard desperately needs a career kickoff.
That summer in Russia represented what many thought would be the beginning of a purple patch for the Red Devils academy product that had steadily emerged from a perennial loan to a guaranteed starter at Old Trafford.
But three appearances in all competitions this season tell an unfortunate story for the fan favorite and, at 28, and entering the prime years of his career, Lingard cannot afford to waste on the outskirts of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s team. .
“I can’t really speak for Jesse and what we’ve talked about, but of course Jesse wants to play soccer and he’s a good player when he plays soccer at his best, so let’s see what happens,” Solskjaer said recently.
With moves to Inter Milan, Tottenham, West Ham, Nice and Sheffield United, Sportsmail weighs the options for the midfielder with the January transfer window closing fast.
Inter de Milan
In what would undoubtedly be a left field change, Jesse Lingard could go from one title challenger to another this month.
Conquering Juventus has been unusually mediocre in Serie A this season, opening the door for cutlery-hungry Inter and AC Milan to jump.
Antonio Conte is looking to bolster his ranks to give his team the best possible chance to end the Old Lady’s dominance and in doing so ruin his plans for a 10th consecutive Scudetto.
And Lingard has been identified as a possible option for the Nerazzurri, thanks to recommendations from former United teammates Ashley Young and Romelu Lukaku.
Of course, the bright lights of the Italian city and bonding with old friends would seem like an attractive prospect for the English.
However, if Lingard is looking for consistent playtime, you might have a hard time finding it in the San Siro. Conte has an established midfield in Marcelo Brozovic, Arturo Vidal and Nicolo Barella, and Lingard may have a hard time dislodging that central trio.
Tottenham Hotspur
Spurs have also expressed interest in taking Lingard out of Manchester United’s hands.
José Mourinho is trying to transform the north London club from a brave runner-up to a menacing champion, and the Portuguese is known to rely on trusted lieutenants to get the job done.
There is no denying that Lingard is one of those players that Mourinho has called up in the past. Having worked together at United, the 57-year-old played Lingard in 107 of his 144 games in charge.
Furthermore, that constant playing time also spawned Lingard’s best football to date. The 28-year-old scored 20 goals and 11 assists in those games with Mourinho, forcing his way into Gareth Southgate’s first XI for that World Cup campaign.
Once again, there may be questions about Lingard’s potential playing time for Spurs, given the myriad of options at Mourinho’s disposal.
He’s unlikely to change his pack and he has no qualms about leaving big-name players on the outskirts, with Gareth Bale, Dele Alli and Harry Winks with limited minutes this season.
But Mourinho’s track record in using English would understandably give him the confidence to make his way into the Portuguese’s plans.
West Ham United
There is surely no better time to join West Ham than now.
David Moyes has overseen a complete transformation in the fortunes of the East London club this season, taking the relegation-struggling Hammers to the top six in the space of a few short months.
That success can be attributed to Moyes’ ability to make the most of his stars. Jarrod Bowen has become one of the most electric players in the top flight, Tomas Soucek has settled in right away, while Declan Rice has come on by leaps and bounds.
Lingard has promised so much but has yet to reach those heights, perhaps Moyes can be the coach to unleash the 28-year-old’s potential.
The Scotsman will be drawn to Lingard’s versatility in playing in positions just behind the striker, with the prospect of exchanging a tempting idea with Bowen and Manuel Lanzini.
While at United, Moyes did not play Lingard, instead sending the then-youngster on loan, but he will have watched the Englishman’s career from afar, and would no doubt use the United outcast on a regular basis.
OGC Nice
The French team had been strongly linked to a move by United’s outcast from the beginning, though no move has yet to materialize.
Lingard representatives reportedly held talks with Ligue 1 bosses about a loan move. However, the club’s president, Jean-Pierre Rivere, has since said that ‘you shouldn’t expect big names’ in a hit for a change this month.
Nice have had a somewhat tumultuous campaign, with massive fan riots leading to the firing of Arsenal legend Patrick Vieira before Christmas.
The club, owned by INEOS president Jim Ratcliffe, has big ambitions but is ranked 14th in the league with Adrian Ursea tasked with turning things around.
They have struggled for goals this season and Lingard would undoubtedly inject much needed creativity into Ursea’s attack. But given Rivere’s comments on ‘big names’, it would be a shock to see the English move to France this month.
Sheffield United
Lingard could move from the top of the table to the bottom before this month’s window comes to an end, with Chris Wilder’s fighters interested in the midfielder.
The Blades have only the solo victory this season and have already been ruled out as certainties to go down, with Roy Keane and Graeme Souness lashing out at Wilder’s team amid their 3-1 loss to Spurs last weekend.
There is no question where the problem with the high flights of last season is: the attack.
Ten goals in 19 games is a desperate return for a team that baffled a slew of rivals last season with its unique style.
And while Lingard won’t necessarily pocket the dozen goals Wilder needs from a forward, he has the ability to throw off defenses with his intricate dribbling and passing.
The 28-year-old’s enthusiasm and attitude would likely lift spirits in a locker room devoid of confidence, but throwing a footballer deep with hardly any soccer would be a big challenge.
WEST BROM
Lingard has become a target for West Brom with Sam Allardyce willing to borrow him.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has yet to make a decision on his future as he knows that he may need to be trusted if United progresses in cup competitions.
However, West Brom has informed United of his interest and is one of the most concrete suitors for him.
The new Premier League boys are in a relegation fight, which would give Lingard a target to aim for and could be the perfect situation for him to rediscover his form.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek is an example of how a loan on a relegation team can bring out the best in a player on loan from Chelsea showing impressive form at Fulham in recent weeks.
Lingard would bring a lot of creativity to West Brom’s attack and would be a prominent figure on the team, a role he would probably enjoy.
However, the English international has other offers on the table and it is unclear if West Brom would be one of his first options.
NEWCASTLE
Newcastle are also exploring the possibility of incorporating the United midfielder on a long-term contract until the end of the season.
Steve Bruce’s men have been struggling in recent weeks and are looking to add new faces to their squad in a bid to stop their decline in form.
Newcastle need to strengthen their offensive ranks and could offer Lingard an attractive role in offensive midfield.
Although there are several clubs linked to a move for Lingard, Sportsmail understands that Newcastle, West Brom and Sheffield United are the serious contenders as it stands.
Arguably, the Magpies have a bigger reputation than West Brom and Sheffield United, which could give them an advantage in the battle to sign Lingard.
Source: m.allfootballapp.com
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