Manchester United: Jesse Lingard has the power in the transfer situation

The future of Jesse Lingard no longer belongs in the hands of Manchester United. No, in fact, the attacker has the power to decide what to do with his career when he returns to Old Trafford.

Jesse Lingard has really thrown a spanner in the plans for both club and country. Last season this time it was sure the Englishman wouldn’t be associated with anything Three Lions or EUORs related.

Thanks to a timely loan move that has benefitted West Ham, Lingard and Manchester United, the in-form midfielder has forced his name back into Gareth Southgate’s plans making it almost impossible to ignore him for selection.

He has started nine games for the Hammers, scoring eight goals and assisting another four. In his last two games alone he has contributed to four goals – goals that has seen them close the gap between them and third-placed Leicester City to one point, keeping their Champions League hopes alive.

What does Manchester do with Jesse Lingard – Keep or sell?

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The aim of United sending their academy graduate out on loan was to rediscover his form of the past – which he undeniably has.

Now, after triggering his one-year extension at the end of last year, Man United might not be able to keep hold of the player with his contract ending at the end of next season 2022.

The personnel in the middle of the park over at Old Trafford doesn’t exactly see Lingard walking into the starting XI. The only outcome that sees a Lingard-United career revival is if the club sells both Paul Pogba and Donny van de Beek.

These two were ahead of the Englishman for Ole Gunnar Solskjær, hence the loan to East London. So the question remains… Have United sent Lingard on loan and triggered his contract to ensure some funds in a possible summer sale?

Jesse Lingard has plenty of options – Inter Milan; PSG; Real Madrid; are all monitoring the situation at Old Trafford

Inter Milan; Real Madrid; Paris Saint-German; Not one project would be easy to turn down. Even to go and sit on the bench at any of these clubs could guarantee silverware and looks as attractive as the Ole-United project, if not more.

"Paris Saint-Germain, Inter Milan and Real Madrid are among a host of clubs monitoring Jesse Lingard’s situation ahead of the summer transfer window, sources have told ESPN.West Ham are keen to sign Lingard permanently at the end of the season but the 28-year-old’s performances have alerted a number of top clubs in the Premier League, including the top six, and abroad. He has one year left on his contract at Old Trafford.Lingard is yet to make a decision about his future but his preference is to play Champions League football next season. (Via: ESPN)"

The fourth and final team that you must not count out for a possible destination if they make the Champions League is West Ham United.

The Hammers are secretly optimistic that they will be able to land his signature on a permanent basis – keeping him at the London Stadium beyond the summer transfer window and his loan spell.

If a sale is a more likely outcome for all parties involved, Jesse and United, then the more important question becomes; how much will clubs have to pay for Jesse?

Our partners over at Red Devil Armada claim United are willing to listen to offers starting @ £30 million. Quite the asking price for a player with a year and a bit left on his current deal.

That and the fact he is 28 years old would make it a good sale, considering this is a confined transfer market that all teams need to try to manoeuvre in with many restrictions.