Rangers and Celtic have been linked with a move for Jesse Lingard – and may just have been handed an unexpected boost.
TEAMtalk reported earlier this month that the Glasgow duo are both looking to sign Lingard, who is in the final six months of his contract at Old Trafford.
United could activate a year option on the deal, but with Lingard way down the pecking order, they may just let him sign elsewhere in January.
There’s now an interesting twist, as United have been drawn against Real Sociedad in the Europa League knockout stages – which could boost Celtic and Rangers.
Sky Sports reported last week that Real are in talks to sign to sign Lingard in January, with the La Liga side keen to hand him a Spanish escape route.
Now though, United would surely be unlikely to let Lingard go to Real and potentially play against them, with the fear of him coming back to haunt them.
United would surely rather send Lingard elsewhere, and that may be where Celtic and Rangers can come in to offer the Red Devils an alternative deal.
Lingard has played just 99 minutes of first-team action this season, and it’s clear that he has to leave the club if he wants to be playing in the second half of the campaign.
It still won’t be easy for Rangers or Celtic to land Lingard; the money involved wages-wise will be a problem, whilst convincing him to move to Scotland over clubs elsewhere won’t be easy.
Yet with Real’s hopes surely dented by yesterday’s Europa League draw, the Old Firm duo should now be preparing to try and tempt United into a deal if they really do want Lingard.
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