Jesse Lingard will not be joining either of West Ham or Newcastle on deadline day, as The Athletic report Manchester United have told the midfielder they will not grant a transfer.
Interim boss Ralf Rangnick met the England international earlier on Monday to discuss his Old Trafford future. Lingard is keen to explore his options ahead of the 23:00 deadline in order to secure regular playing time in a World Cup year, having rarely featured this term.
Rangnick accepted Lingard’s position and gave his support to a last-gasp departure should the Red Devils board also agree. But Old Trafford chiefs have now slammed the exit door shut and will not sanction any deals. They have also informed Lingard of their set position.
West Ham and Newcastle lodged improved bids on deadline day in their attempts to secure Lingard’s transfer from Manchester United. The Hammers’ offer was also worth more than their deal struck a year ago for his temporary mid-season claret-and-blue arrival.
Newcastle, meanwhile, offered a £3m loan fee plus a £4m bonus on securing survival, per the Daily Mail (31/01, 17:01). But while the Toon and Irons waited for the Red Devils’ reply, they told Lingard that his hopes of leaving Old Trafford before the deadline were now over.
Lingard left in Manchester United limbo as West Ham, Newcastle fall short
Manchester United have now left Lingard in limbo by rejecting Newcastle and West Ham’s last-ditch transfer interest. He was a sensation on loan at the London Stadium last season with nine goals and five assists. But he has not enjoyed the same chances at Old Trafford.
Lingard – who Alan Curbishley called a ‘revelation’ in east London – has only played nine top-flight fixtures so far this term. He is also yet to start a league game this season, but has scored twice over just 88-minutes. He has featured more for England with 169-minutes.
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