The 2019-20 season has been unusual, with the COVID-19 pandemic causing a ruckus around the world, and English football has been nothing different.
However, light can now be seen at the end of the tunnel, with the FA deciding that footballing action will indeed resume later this month.
The remaining games will be played inside empty stadiums to reach the final conclusion, and players have now returned to training after months of lockdown.
Besides ensuring the best possible finish for their teams, the players, especially those on the fringes, will also have their summer transfer values at stake come 17th June.
Jesse Lingard is one of those who will have a lot to prove when Manchester United take to the pitch for their remaining nine games, with their aim being to finish in the top four.
The winger, who can also operate as an attacking midfielder, has fallen down the pecking order at Old Trafford since the arrival of Daniel James from Swansea City last summer.
At 27, Lingard is believed to be at the prime of his career and won’t get any better chance to secure a move away from the club for more first-team action, something he might find difficult at Manchester United.
While Lingard looks for reasons of his own to secure a move away, the club also have to weigh its options before deciding on the final course of action.
The England international is a product of the club’s youth academy and knows things around Old Trafford more than anybody else.
But then again, if Manchester United are not going to play him regularly, what is the use of keeping him at the club?
Here, therefore, we are going to discuss why the Red Devils need to let Jese Lingard leave when the summer transfer window opens.
Manchester United can’t afford to pollute their dressing room environment
Lingard signed up with Paul Pogba’s agent, Mino Raiola last year, and according to reports, has been keeping a keen eye on proceedings in Italy.
The report goes on to suggest that the 27-year-old is in contact with his former team-mates – Ashley Young and Chris Smalling, asking them about the life in Italy, and the forward might hand in a transfer request when the summer window opens.
As has been seen in the case of Paul Pogba, keeping hold of a discontented player can cause more harm than good.
While Ole Gunnar Solskjaer managed to keep hold of the French international last summer, Pogba looks to be on his way out of the club this year, and it would be better for both parties involved if that indeed happens.
After all, having a player at the club against his wishes can cause a serious problem inside the dressing room.
Lingard’s disciplinary issues
A video had surfaced last June where Lingard was seen foul-mouthing during his holiday in Miami, along with his Manchester United team-mate, Marcus Rashford.
It had caused a general uproar among the fans, with former Leicester City and Crystal Palace manager Ian Halloway claiming that it shows the lack of respect around the place.
“They’ve got a big problem. It’s a lack of respect around the place and you can’t have that. Your standards are the absolutely utmost priority as a manager, so he’s got to re-establish that and he has to make a statement to say this is not allowed.”
Ian Halloway
Coming from one of Sir Alex Ferguson’s students, this is simply unacceptable and Solskjaer needs to ensure that he doesn’t lose control of the team he is building from scratch.
Lingard becoming surplus to requirements at Old Trafford
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer already has a number of players at his disposal who can operate in the same position as the Manchester United academy graduate.
Daniel James, who has been used more frequently down the wing of late, adds more pace to the Red Devils’ attack and is also five years younger to Jese Lingard.
Moreover, the Red Devils are expected to be active in the upcoming transfer window, meaning there will be players coming in to push Lingard even further to the fringes.
The likes of Jadon Sancho and Kai Havertz have been heavily linked with making a move to Manchester United. The Premier League giants can, therefore, part ways with Lingard to free up space and funds for new arrivals.
However, the final decision will remain on how Manchester United fare over the course of the remaining nine games and whether they have Champions League football back at Old Trafford next season.
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