Jesse Lingard to be offered new Man Utd contract

Manchester United are expected to offer Jesse Lingard a new long-term contract to secure his future at Old Trafford.

Lingard has one year left on his current deal, and United do not have the option to automatically extend it by one season after triggering that clause last year, when the 28-year-old was expected to leave on a free.

Since then, Lingard has seen his value sore thanks to an outstanding loan spell with West Ham United, where he bagged nine goals and five assists in 16 games, and the Hammers are understandably keen to pay up and bring him back permanently.

The main issue for West Ham is that United are yet to fully decide what they want to do with Lingard. There have been conflicting reports over whether he could return to the first team or whether he remains set for an exit.

According to the Daily Star, United are prepared to try and tie Lingard down to a new three-year contract as a reward for his impressive form, although whether that is simply an attempt to preserve his value is unclear.

United could choose to keep Lingard | Visionhaus/Getty Images

United are looking for around £25m to sell Lingard which, coupled with his £110,000-a-week wages, has seen West Ham's interest cool, and any new contract would almost certainly kill their chances of getting a deal done this summer.

It was recently claimed that Lingard had told United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer that he wants to stay and prove himself at Old Trafford again, but there is no guarantee that he will be granted his wish as there is not an obvious spot in the team for the England international.

His future could hinge on that of Donny van de Beek, the current understudy to Bruno Fernandes in Lingard's favoured number 10 role.

United are open to offers for Donny van de Beek | Matthew Ashton - AMA/Getty Images

United are expected to listen to offers for Van de Beek, who failed to make an impact in his debut season following his £40m move from Ajax, and his departure would free up a spot in the squad which Lingard could take.

A final decision is yet to be made on Lingard, whose asking price would likely be lowered if he refuses to extend his contract.


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Source : 90min