Newcastle United have been reportedly linked with Manchester United midfielder Jesse Lingard ahead of the winter transfer window.
The Magpies have the money to spend after the £300m takeover of the club by a Saudi-led consortium. With the northeast club without a permanent manager, winless and reeling in the relegation zone, it is no surprise to see them being linked with a host of names.
According to the Sun, Manchester United’s Jesse Lingard is on the radar of Newcastle United, who are yet to bring in a manager to replace the sacked Steve Bruce. The report adds the Englishman has been linked with a number of clubs, with West Ham also monitoring his situation at Old Trafford after his impressive loan spell in east London last term.
Lingard, 28, has been struggling to break into Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s starting XI this season, managing only four Premier League appearances, in which he’s netted twice. The attacking midfielder is in the final year of his contract and is considering his options before committing his future at Old Trafford.
Jesse Lingard to Newcastle United—A smart attacking option?
Whether it is defending, creating chances or scoring goals, Newcastle United have struggled in every department so far this season and rightly find themselves battling for top-flight survival.
Allan Saint-Maximin, and to some extent, Callum Wilson have been the rare shining spots in the Magpies attack. A tally of just 11 goals in nine games means that the Toon Army will surely need to take a dip into the January transfer pond in a bid to add some much-needed flair and bite to their rather toothless attack.
To that end, Newcastle United’s links with an attacking midfielder like Jesse Lingard certainly makes a lot of sense, given that the northeast club need to bring in someone during the winter transfer window who could make an instant impact and lift the team’s spirits.
Lingard was truly astonishing for West Ham during a temporary loan spell at the London Stadium last season, helping David Moyes’ side achieve a European berth by bagging nine goals and four assists in just 16 Premier League games. He brought speed, creativity, energy, intensity and goals to the West Ham side and there’s no doubting the 28-year-old’s ability to replicate something similar at Newcastle, if a move materialises.
The England international can play in different positions across midfield and attack, and such versatility combined with his volumes of Premier League experience and attributes could make him a shrewd option for the Toon Army. At 28, Lingard is operating at the peak of his powers and his arrival at Newcastle would undoubtedly hand a massive boost to the club’s uninspiring attack.
Not to forget, the English attacker could be available at a knockdown price in January due to him entering the final year of his contract at Man United. All in all, Newcastle would certainly do a smart deal if they manage to secure Lingard’s services in the mid-season trading period.